Google scraps AI search feature that crowdsourced amateur medical advice

2026-03-16 · Source: AI (artificial intelligence) | The Guardian · Field: Health & Wellbeing — Medical Devices & Health Technology, Public Health & Epidemiology, Healthcare Systems & Policy · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, short

Summary

Google has quietly discontinued its "What People Suggest" AI search feature, which provided crowdsourced health advice from non-professionals. The company had initially launched this feature, available on mobile devices in the US, to offer users perspectives from individuals with similar lived medical experiences, organizing online discussions into themes using AI. Google stated the removal was part of a "broader simplification" of its search page and not due to quality or safety concerns. This decision follows mounting scrutiny over Google's use of AI in health information, including a Guardian investigation in January 2026 that highlighted risks from misleading health information in Google AI Overviews, which are shown to 2 billion people monthly.

Key takeaway

For product managers developing AI features involving sensitive user data like health, your teams should prioritize rigorous safety and accuracy protocols over rapid deployment of crowdsourced information. The swift removal of "What People Suggest" underscores the critical need for transparent communication regarding feature changes and the potential reputational risks associated with perceived downplaying of safety concerns, even if officially denied.

Key insights

Crowdsourced health advice via AI was quietly removed by Google amid scrutiny over AI-generated health information.

Principles

• AI-driven health advice faces intense public and media scrutiny.
• User-generated content requires careful vetting in sensitive domains.

In practice

• Prioritize expert-verified sources for health-related AI applications.
• Implement robust content moderation for user-contributed health data.

Topics

• AI in Healthcare
• Crowdsourced Health Advice
• Google AI Overviews
• AI Ethics
• Search Engine AI

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by AI (artificial intelligence) | The Guardian.