Google's AI Overviews now offer health advice in US

Google's AI system, known for giving incorrect answers, is now offering medical advice. The company’s chief health officer, Karen DeSalvo, announced improvements to their AI models that will expand coverage to thousands of health topics. A new feature named "What People Suggest" will include health advice sourced from internet users, raising concerns about the quality of information. While DeSalvo claims this feature is available on mobile devices in the U.S., users have reported difficulty accessing it. Critics highlight that Google's AI regularly provides dangerous misinformation. A study found that the AI made errors in about 60% of cases for basic questions. In past years, Google cut its health division, leading to worries about the reliability of its healthcare information. Experts are skeptical about Google's ability to deliver accurate health advice, noting that previous tech efforts to transform healthcare have not succeeded. Google has stated it has measures in place to ensure quality, but it acknowledges that low-quality answers may still occur. The company faces pressure to prove that its AI can give safe and accurate health responses. Questions about its plans to improve continue to remain unanswered.