"I spent last week rummaging through press releases, attending briefings in Las Vegas hotel rooms, and speaking with health technology companies about what's next in their industry. While the products are new, the same themes remain: these companies aim to transform your life -- and, by extension, your health -- with their products. Will they live up to their promise? Also: I'm still thinking about the 8 weirdest tech gadgets I saw at CES - and some are even useful I came back from my meetings refreshed and energized by what's next in this industry -- and eager to talk about it. I called upon Safoora Khosravi, a senior research associate in consumer health science and wearables at Lux Research, to discuss some of the trends she also observed at CES 2026."
"The best health devices effectively combine medical-grade sensors with strong AI to not only accurately capture biometric data but also connect data for diagnostics. "AI is no longer a feature in itself; it's becoming foundational," Khosravi told me. "At this point, what matters isn't whether a product uses AI, but how effectively it translates data into diagnostics, behavior change, and outcomes." Also: 40 million people are using ChatGPT for healthcare advice The hardware in these health trackers is becoming increasingly accurate, with several devices earning FDA clearance for specific features and sensors. As the health technology space heats up, these medical stamps of approval will no longer be nice to have -- they'll be required."
AI is becoming foundational in consumer health devices, combining medical-grade sensors with algorithms to capture biometrics and enable diagnostics, behavior change, and outcomes. Hardware accuracy is improving, and several devices have earned FDA clearances for specific features and sensors, signaling regulatory approval will become essential. Wearables are evolving with sleeker designs and improved haptics. Interest in consumer EEG, hormone health tracking, and vagus nerve stimulation is rising. Multi-signal insights are being developed to link movement patterns to stress and breathing patterns to physiological measures. Consumer use of AI chat tools for healthcare advice is notable.
Read at ZDNET
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