Mountain View, CA – Google is doubling down on artificial intelligence to improve the way people find health-related information online. At its annual health-focused event, The Check Up, the tech giant announced a significant expansion of AI-generated search overviews to include thousands more health topics, extending beyond common ailments like the flu. These AI-driven summaries are also being introduced in multiple languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, and Japanese, to provide global access to AI-powered health insights.
Over the past year, Google has been increasingly replacing traditional search results with AI-generated overviews, which compile information from various sources into a single, digestible response. The goal is to make relevant medical information more accessible without requiring users to manually click through multiple links to assess their credibility. Now, Google is expanding these capabilities to respond to more detailed and complex medical queries, ensuring users can quickly access vital health information without the extra steps.
To complement AI overviews, Google is introducing a new feature called “What People Suggest,” which curates personal advice from online forums and public platforms like Quora and Reddit. The feature is currently limited to mobile searches in the U.S., but it aims to provide a more community-driven perspective on health-related queries. By surfacing real-world experiences from online discussions, Google hopes to offer users a broader range of insights beyond traditional medical sources.
As with any generative AI technology, Google acknowledges the potential for inaccuracies, often referred to as AI hallucinations. The company emphasizes that AI-generated health responses should not replace professional medical advice and encourages users to verify critical information with medical professionals.
Beyond Search, Google is expanding its AI initiatives in the medical field with the launch of the Medical Records API, a key addition to its Health Connect platform. This new API will allow medical records stored in specific data formats to be shared seamlessly across multiple health and fitness apps on Android devices. By improving data interoperability, Google aims to enhance health tracking and medical record accessibility for both patients and healthcare providers.
AI-powered health research is also a major focus for Google. The company is expanding access to lightweight AI models from its Gemma family, which are specifically designed to assist researchers in accelerating drug discovery. These models analyze vast amounts of biological and molecular data, helping scientists predict the effects of various compounds and identify potential treatments faster than traditional research methods.
Additionally, Google is piloting a groundbreaking AI tool called Capricorn, which is being tested to assist pediatric oncologists in developing personalized treatment plans for young cancer patients. The pilot program is currently running at a leading hospital in the Netherlands, where the AI model is helping doctors analyze patient-specific data and recommend tailored therapies based on historical treatment outcomes. This marks one of the first real-world applications of AI in pediatric oncology, with the potential to revolutionize cancer care for children.
Google’s continued investment in AI for medical search, research, and patient care reflects the company’s ambition to position itself at the forefront of AI-driven healthcare solutions. By integrating AI into search, medical records, and clinical decision-making, Google is paving the way for a more intelligent and connected healthcare ecosystem. However, the company remains cautious about AI’s limitations, reiterating that its technology should be used to support—not replace—human expertise in medicine.
With these advancements, Google is making a bold statement about the future of AI in healthcare. Whether through AI-assisted searches, improved health data accessibility, or cutting-edge research applications, the company’s latest innovations are poised to reshape how people access and interact with health information in the digital age.