Google has quietly removed its AI overviews from search results for certain medical inquiries, just months after they were criticized for providing misleading and false information. The move comes as a relief to medical experts who had warned about the dangers of relying on these overviews for life-or-death decisions.
In one instance, Google's AI was found to have recommended that people with pancreatic cancer avoid high-fat foods, which is the opposite of what doctors advise. This could potentially put patients at risk and even lead to an increased mortality rate.
In another case, Google provided incorrect information about liver function tests, which could cause people with serious liver disease to believe they are healthy. These errors were deemed "alarming" by experts who warned that they could have severe consequences for those affected.
As a result of these criticisms, Google has disabled its AI overviews for certain medical questions. While the company maintains that it invests heavily in the quality of its AI overviews, particularly for sensitive topics like health, and that the vast majority provide accurate information, the removal of this feature highlights the need for further scrutiny.
This latest development is just the latest in a string of controversies surrounding Google's AI overviews. The feature has been criticized for suggesting people put glue on pizza, eat rocks, and has been the subject of multiple lawsuits.
In one instance, Google's AI was found to have recommended that people with pancreatic cancer avoid high-fat foods, which is the opposite of what doctors advise. This could potentially put patients at risk and even lead to an increased mortality rate.
In another case, Google provided incorrect information about liver function tests, which could cause people with serious liver disease to believe they are healthy. These errors were deemed "alarming" by experts who warned that they could have severe consequences for those affected.
As a result of these criticisms, Google has disabled its AI overviews for certain medical questions. While the company maintains that it invests heavily in the quality of its AI overviews, particularly for sensitive topics like health, and that the vast majority provide accurate information, the removal of this feature highlights the need for further scrutiny.
This latest development is just the latest in a string of controversies surrounding Google's AI overviews. The feature has been criticized for suggesting people put glue on pizza, eat rocks, and has been the subject of multiple lawsuits.
I mean, think about it, Google can't even get medical info right, that's like saying we're in a state where our scientists are more interested in making money than saving lives 
. And what about all those people who put themselves at risk by following the advice? That's just not okay 
. It raises questions about accountability, you know? Who's responsible when Google gets it wrong? Shouldn't they be held to a higher standard? I mean, we expect accuracy from our healthcare professionals, shouldn't we demand the same from tech giants? 
, can't believe Google just quietly shut down its AI medical thingy... it's like, we've all seen those crazy recommendations online about what to do when you have cancer 
or liver disease... it's just not cool that they got it so wrong and now people are having to rely on actual doctors for advice. 
! And honestly, how can we trust it when it gets something as simple as pancreatic cancer nutrition totally wrong? 
We need more accountability and transparency from these big companies, especially when it comes to health info 
. I mean, can you imagine if someone with cancer or a serious liver disease was relying on those "tips" to make life-or-death decisions? It's crazy! 
I guess it just goes to show you gotta be careful when using AI for important stuff.
It's like, Google says they invest in quality control, but you gotta prove it, right? 
i mean who else wouldnt wanna rely on a tech giant for life or death decisions? anyway lets just say google needs 2 do more quality control lol idk wut they think they r doing but hopefully its gonna prevent more harm 
! i mean google should be super careful with their ai overviews, especially when it comes to medical stuff... they cant afford to mess up lives like that 
it sounds crazy that they just removed them tho? like, dont get me wrong, accuracy matters but this is like the ultimate example of how we need more accountability in tech! 
what's next? are they gonna disable their ai chatbots too? 
. I can only imagine how worried doctors must've been when patients relied on those inaccurate answers for life-or-death decisions 
. And seriously, who wouldn't want to avoid high-fat foods if they had pancreatic cancer? That was some straight-up terrible advice 
! So kudos to Google for stepping up and disabling the feature – we need more transparency around AI info like this 
. It's all about keeping people safe and informed online 
.