Apple Watch Introduces AI-Powered High Blood Pressure Detection

Apple has unveiled a groundbreaking feature for its latest smartwatches, enabling users to detect potential high blood pressure without traditional cuff monitors. The innovation, available on the new Apple Watch Series 11 and compatible with models as far back as the Series 9, leverages AI to analyze sensor data.

Sumbul Ahmad Desai, Apple's Health VP, emphasized the company's long-term focus on addressing high blood pressure, a condition affecting over 1 billion people worldwide. The algorithm was developed using data from 100,000 participants in Apple's 2019 heart study and validated with a separate study of 2,000 individuals. The feature has already received FDA approval and will launch in more than 150 countries.

Unlike traditional monitors, the feature does not provide direct blood pressure readings. Instead, it serves as an early warning system, prompting users to verify results with a cuff and consult a physician. Ami Bhatt of the American College of Cardiology notes it's a supplementary tool, not a replacement for medical devices.