United Kingdom, March 17 -- Google has scrapped a new AI search feature that gave users crowdsourced amateur medical advice.

The tech giant said that the launch of the 'What People Suggest' feature, which saw tips provided on medical matters by strangers, demonstrated "the potential of AI to transform health outcomes" but it has now quietly dropped the feature.

A Google spokesperson confirmed that it had been scrapped as part of a "broader simplification" of its search page and the move had nothing to do with the safety or quality of the feature.

It comes as the company faces increasing scrutiny over its use of AI to provide millions of users with information and advice about health.

An investigation by The Guardian newspaper in Janua...