Search behavior around health topics is changing as Google removes AI Overviews from certain medical queries. The move affects AI-generated summaries that previously appeared at the top of search results and aimed to provide fast, simplified explanations for health related questions.
Google removes AI Overviews after internal reviews and external scrutiny highlighted accuracy and context issues. Some summaries oversimplified medical information and failed to account for key factors such as age, sex, ethnicity or existing conditions. In healthcare searches, missing details can significantly change how people interpret information.
Health experts cautioned that such summaries could unintentionally mislead users. Simplified test ranges or generalized explanations may give people a false sense of reassurance, potentially delaying follow up care or professional diagnosis. Experts stressed that medical information often requires nuanced interpretation that automated summaries may not reliably provide.
Google says it is improving the feature rather than shutting it down completely. The company states that many AI summaries are accurate and supported by reputable sources, but it recognizes the need to act quickly when people could misunderstand the information or when it could cause harm. As a result, Google removes AI Overviews specifically for queries considered high risk.
Google has disabled AI Overviews for the most problematic medical searches. However, slightly modified versions of similar questions may still trigger AI-generated summaries. Users can also continue to access AI assistance through Google’s separate AI Mode, which operates outside standard search overviews.
Key Points:
- Google removes AI Overviews from select medical searches
- Concerns focus on accuracy and missing medical context
- Experts warned about delayed care and misinterpretation
- The feature is being refined, not fully removed
