Health information and knowledge are being made more accessible—and somewhat more accurate—but how does this impact user experience?

AI and Google Search are improving health information accessibility.

Highlights:

  • Google is introducing a new feature that uses AI to organize and present insights from online discussions related to health conditions.
  • Google is significantly broadening the reach of its AI Overviews to include “thousands more health topics.”

Google has significantly expanded its Google AI Overviews to cover thousands more health topics, marking a major shift in how users access AI and medical information. This announcement, made at Google’s “The Check Up” healthcare tech event, signifies a deeper integration of AI in health searches and a broader evolution of search engine advancements.

Expanding AI Overviews in Health

Previously, AI-generated search results for health-related queries were limited. Now, leveraging advancements in Gemini models, Google search results and AI Overviews are delivering more relevant and comprehensive overviews across a wider range of health-related search queries. This expansion also includes more countries and languages, making vital health information accessible to a broader audience. Google emphasizes that these AI overviews maintain a high standard of clinical factuality, addressing concerns about accuracy.

Introducing “What People Suggest”

A novel feature, “What People Suggest,” uses AI to aggregate and analyze perspectives from online discussions, staying true to its previous shift toward community-sourced information. This allows users to learn from the experiences of others with similar health conditions, while interacting with the benefits of AI for medical information. For example, someone seeking nutrition advice for celiac disease can see what has worked for others, blending personal experiences with clinical knowledge. This feature, currently available on mobile in the U.S., provides a practical look at the changing nature of Google health query updates.

Broader Health AI Initiatives.

These Google search updates are part of a larger suite of health technology and search engine advancements. Google also announced Medical Records APIs in Health Connect, FDA clearance for Loss of Pulse Detection on Pixel Watch 3, and AI tools for biomedical research and drug discovery. These developments demonstrate Google’s commitment to leveraging AI-powered search insights and AI across the healthcare spectrum.

Implications for Search and Content

The expansion of Google AI Overviews and the introduction of “What People Suggest” have significant implications for Google SEO and AI. While this may affect traditional search visibility, it also presents new opportunities for health publishers to appear in AI-generated summaries and the “What People Suggest” section.

However, the challenge of AI hallucinations remains. Even with improvements, AI models can still produce inaccuracies and false information. The integration of personal experiences alongside medical websites reflects a growing recognition of the value of both clinical and real-world perspectives in health information.

Work with the Google SEO professionals at Search Berg to craft content that is accurate, value-laden, and addresses queries and concerns from users more accurately. Schedule a consultation with our team to discuss the possibilities.