Google has introduced a raft of AI-powered healthcare improvements to its Search platform, designed to integrate clinical expertise with patient experiences while expanding global accessibility. The updates, launched at its annual The Check Up event, accent the tech giant’s move toward embedding generative AI across healthcare ecosystems.
A new “What People Suggest” feature aggregates anonymised insights from online forums and patient discussions, enabling users to compare real-world experiences. For example, individuals managing arthritis can explore exercise routines endorsed by others with the condition, though this functionality remains limited to U.S. mobile users.
While not replacing professional advice, the tool acknowledges the value of lived experiences in health decision-making—a trend also seen in Google’s partnerships with institutions like the Cleveland Clinic for YouTube-based medical content.
Google’s knowledge panels—previously confined to topics like influenza—now cover thousands of additional health subjects. These information-rich boxes will debut in Spanish, Japanese, and Portuguese, prioritising mobile accessibility in regions where digital health literacy varies. This multilingual push complements more extensive initiatives, such as deploying AI-powered diabetic retinopathy screenings in India and maternal health tools in Africa.
Recent improvements to AI Overviews—concise summaries appearing atop search results—address earlier controversies, including nonsensical suggestions like adding glue to pizza. Enhanced Gemini models now power these summaries, with Google claiming improved clinical accuracy for queries such as flu symptom identification. However, experts caution that while AI Overviews assist with complex questions, users should verify information through trusted sources.
Beyond Search, Google introduced Medical Records APIs for its Health Connect platform, which allows seamless integration of clinical data (e.g., medications, lab results) with wearable device metrics like sleep and activity. This follows FDA approval for Loss of Pulse Detection on the Pixel Watch 3, which automatically alerts emergency services during cardiac emergencies.
The company’s AI co-scientist, built on Gemini 2.0, aids biomedical researchers by generating hypotheses and experimental frameworks from scientific literature. Additionally, TxGemma, an open-source model for drug discovery, aims to accelerate the identification of therapeutic candidates—a collaboration with biotech firms like Recursion.
Google’s healthcare strategy has made headway since disbanding its dedicated Health division in 2021. The updates mainly highlight Google’s dual focus: enhancing patient-facing tools while supporting clinical and research workflows. However, challenges persist, including balancing AI-generated content with verified medical guidance, a tension brought out by past inaccuracies in AI Overviews.