How Apple Watch uses AI to detect high blood pressure

**How Apple Watch Uses AI to Detect High Blood Pressure**
*By Akash Pandey | Sep 19, 2025, 06:54 PM*

Apple has introduced a groundbreaking feature in its latest Apple Watch Series 11 models that can alert users to possible high blood pressure. This innovative capability, developed using artificial intelligence (AI), is also compatible with Apple Watch Series 9 and later models.

According to Sumbul Ahmad Desai, Apple’s Vice President of Health, the feature was created by applying AI models to existing sensor data collected by the watch.

### How Apple Developed the AI Algorithm

Apple leveraged AI to analyze data from 100,000 participants involved in a heart and movement study launched in 2019. The objective was to identify patterns in sensor signals—primarily from the watch’s heart-related sensors—that correlate with traditional blood pressure measurements.

Through multiple layers of machine learning, Apple developed an algorithm that was further validated in a dedicated study of 2,000 participants.

### Regulatory Approval and Availability

The feature has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It does not provide direct blood pressure readings but instead alerts users about potential high blood pressure. Users are then encouraged to confirm their condition with a traditional blood pressure cuff and consult a healthcare professional.

Apple plans to make this feature available in over 150 countries worldwide.

### Potential Health Impact

Experts believe this feature could have significant health benefits. Ami Bhatt, Chief Innovation Officer of the American College of Cardiology, stated that Apple’s AI-driven function may help users detect high blood pressure early, potentially preventing serious health issues such as heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease.

However, Bhatt emphasized that the feature should not replace conventional blood pressure measurements or professional medical advice. She also cautioned about the risk of false reassurance, warning that individuals who do not receive alerts might mistakenly assume they do not have hypertension.

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With this new AI-powered tool, Apple continues to enhance health monitoring through wearable technology, potentially saving lives by encouraging earlier detection and intervention for high blood pressure.
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