Google Removes AI Summaries for Health Queries

Google has removed artificial intelligence-generated summaries from its search results for specific health-related queries after an investigation revealed inaccuracies that could mislead users and potentially delay medical care.

The removals target searches such as "what is the normal range for liver blood tests" and "what is the normal range for liver function tests," where the AI Overviews feature previously provided numerical ranges for enzymes and proteins without accounting for key variables like age, sex, ethnicity, or nationality. Liver function tests measure substances in the blood to assess liver health, and reference ranges can vary based on individual factors, making contextual information essential for accurate interpretation. In these cases, the summaries drew from data provided by a hospital chain in India, presenting the figures as universal standards. Variations of the queries, including "lft reference range" and "lft test reference range," initially triggered similar AI-generated responses but no longer do so following the changes.

The issue came to light through an examination that highlighted how such omissions might give users false reassurance. For instance,...