Apple Watch Adds Blood Pressure Alerts with AI-Powered Technology

Apple has added a new health feature to its Watch Series 11, which uses AI to warn users when they may have high blood pressure. The feature analyzes existing heart sensor data and will be available in over 150 countries. It is aimed at helping individuals identify high blood pressure early, but experts stress that it should not replace a doctor's diagnosis.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized Apple (AAPL.O) to launch a new hypertension detection feature on its smartwatches, the company said late Friday. Apple unveiled the blood pressure monitoring capability during its September 9 event, where it also introduced a slimmer iPhone Air and updated iPhone lineup. The feature will be available later this month on the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, and the premium Ultra 2 and Ultra 3 models US FDA approves Apple Watch hypertension detection feature^[1].

The new feature uses the watch’s optical heart sensor to analyze blood vessel responses to heartbeats. Running passively in the background, the algorithm reviews data collected over 30 days and notifies users if it detects consistent signs of high blood pressure. Apple noted that the tool may not identify every case of hypertension but could alert around one million users globally. The company plans to roll out the technology in more than 150 countries and regions, including the U.S. and the EU US FDA approves Apple Watch hypertension detection feature^[1].

According to analysts, the introduction of this AI-driven feature has sparked interest among investors. Market analysts have been assessing Apple's prospects, with the average one-year price target for Apple Inc. (AAPL, Financial) standing at $243.48, including a high estimate of $305.00 and a low estimate of $175.00. These projections suggest a modest upside of 2.35% from the present stock price of $237.88, indicating potential for growth. The consensus recommendation from 50 brokerage firms is an average rating of 2.1, classifying Apple as an "Outperform" stock Apple (AAPL) Integrates AI for Blood Pressure Monitoring in New Watch^[2].

While the new feature is aimed at helping individuals identify high blood pressure early, experts stress that it should not replace a doctor's diagnosis. The feature is designed to complement traditional medical practices and provide users with additional data points to discuss with healthcare professionals.