We have all done it at some point. You notice a strange ache, get lab results that do not quite make sense, or feel something is off, and your first instinct is to open Google. You are not trying to replace your doctor. You just want a quick sense of whether something looks normal or not. That habit, however, has recently caused Google to rethink one of its most visible AI features.
Google has quietly removed several AI-generated health summaries from its search results after an investigation revealed that some of the information being shown was inaccurate and potentially harmful. The issue surfaced after reporting by The Guardian highlighted serious flaws in Google’s AI-powered health answers, particularly within its AI Overviews feature that appears at the very top of search pages.
These AI Overviews are designed to give users quick, summarized answers without needing to click through to another website. While that sounds convenient, the investigation found that the system often stripped away critical medical context.
One of the most concerning examples involved liver blood test results. When users searched for normal ranges, the AI displayed a simple list of numbers with no follow-up questions. It did not ask about age, sex, ethnicity, medical history, or any underlying conditions. It just presented a single set of values as if they applied universally. Medical professionals quickly pointed out how risky that approach could be.
According to experts, lab results are rarely one size fits all. A value that appears normal for one person could signal a problem for someone else depending on their circumstances. Without that context, the information becomes misleading rather than helpful.
The problem was not only that the AI got details wrong. It was that it gave users a false sense of reassurance. Someone with early-stage liver disease could see their numbers labeled as normal and decide to skip a follow-up appointment. In reality, those same numbers might warrant further testing or monitoring. That gap between data and interpretation is where real-world harm can occur.
Google responded by removing the specific health queries flagged in the report and stated that its AI systems are generally designed to be helpful. However, health organizations such as the British Liver Trust discovered that simply rephrasing the same question often caused the same misleading information to reappear. Fixing one prompt did not prevent the system from repeating the mistake elsewhere.
This raises broader concerns about trust in AI-generated search results. Because AI Overviews sit above traditional links to hospitals, research institutions, and peer-reviewed medical sources, they carry an implied authority. Users are conditioned to believe that the top result is the most reliable one. When that result comes in a neatly packaged summary box, it feels definitive, even when it is not.
Google has promoted its AI tools as a way to make information more accessible, but healthcare presents unique challenges. Unlike travel planning or email summaries, medical information requires nuance, personalization, and caution. A predictive text system cannot fully account for the complexity of human biology or individual health histories.
This episode serves as a reminder that while AI can be useful for organizing information, it should not replace professional medical guidance. Clicking through to reputable sources like NHS, Mayo Clinic, or Cleveland Clinic provides context, disclaimers, and expert-backed explanations that AI summaries often lack.
For now, Google appears to be stepping back from letting AI act as a frontline medical advisor. Until stronger safeguards and contextual checks are in place, users may be better off scrolling past the AI box and consulting trusted healthcare websites or speaking directly with a medical professional. When it comes to health, accuracy matters far more than speed
