**How Apple Watch Uses AI to Detect High Blood Pressure**
*By Akash Pandey | Sep 19, 2025, 06:54 pm*
Apple has introduced an exciting new feature in its latest Apple Watch Series 11 models that can alert users to potential high blood pressure. This innovative capability, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), is also compatible with Apple Watch Series 9 and later models.
### How Apple Developed the AI Algorithm
According to Sumbul Ahmad Desai, Apple’s Vice President of Health, the feature was created by applying AI models to existing sensor data already collected by the watch. Apple analyzed data from over 100,000 participants involved in a heart and movement study launched in 2019. The aim was to uncover patterns in the watch’s heart-related sensor signals that correspond with traditional blood pressure readings.
After multiple layers of machine learning, Apple developed an algorithm that was further validated through a study involving 2,000 participants. This extensive data research ensures the feature’s reliability and accuracy in detecting signs of high blood pressure.
### Regulatory Approval and Global Availability
The new high blood pressure alert feature has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It’s important to note that the Apple Watch does not directly measure blood pressure; rather, it provides warnings when it detects signals that may indicate hypertension. Users are then advised to confirm their blood pressure using a traditional cuff and consult a healthcare professional.
Apple plans to roll out this feature in over 150 countries worldwide, making early hypertension detection more accessible to millions of users.
### Health Impact and Expert Opinions
Ami Bhatt, Chief Innovation Officer of the American College of Cardiology, highlighted the potential benefits of Apple’s new feature. She noted that it could help individuals identify high blood pressure early, potentially preventing serious conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease.
However, Bhatt also cautioned users against relying solely on the Apple Watch for diagnosis. “There is also the risk of false reassurance; those who don’t receive an alert may wrongly assume they don’t have hypertension,” she explained. Traditional blood pressure measurements and professional medical evaluations remain essential.
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Apple’s integration of AI into health monitoring continues to push the boundaries of wearable technology, offering promising tools to support healthier lives.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/apple-watch-uses-ai-to-offer-blood-pressure-notification-feature/story