All articles tagged with #health data
A practical guide to configuring Google's new Health app: customize the Today page tiles by deleting and re-adding items (drag rearrangement isn’t supported yet), repeat the same cleanup on the Health tab for a tailored data view, and on Android add the (non-customizable) Google Health widget for quick metrics. The article frames these steps as part of Google’s ongoing updates after replacing Fitbit, aimed at improving usability.
Oura’s Ring 5 is 40% smaller than Ring 4, thanks to redesigned internals that shrink signal paths from 18 to 12 and boost LEDs for better readings across skin tones. It comes in sizes 6–13 (Ring 4 offered 4–15) and includes a charging case that can keep it powered for about a month. Hardware updates accompany Health Radar, AI-assisted guidance via Counsel Health, GLP-1 Insights, Health Records, and Live Activity on iPhone, among other features. Pre-orders are live with shipping starting June 6; pricing starts at $399 (base), $499 for additional finishes, $99 for the charging case, and a $6/month or $70/year subscription.
WIRED tests Muse Spark, Meta's health-focused AI, which encourages users to paste lab results and biometric data for analysis, but privacy risks loom since data can be stored to train models and used for ads, HIPAA protections don’t apply to consumer AI, and experts warn the tool is not a doctor and can give risky guidance (including an extreme fasting plan).
Garmin is developing a third‑party Garmin Chat Connector to link Garmin Connect data with AI assistants such as ChatGPT and Claude, enabling natural‑language questions about sleep, workouts, and recovery. The system, a cloud‑hosted MCP server, securely connects data via a token‑based URL and exposes 16 data tools across five categories; it is not an official Garmin product and is nearing completion as part of a broader move toward conversational health analytics.
Ultrahuman unveils Ring Pro, its third-gen smart ring, with up to 15 days of battery life and 250 days of on-device health history, plus a Pro Charging Case that adds ~45 more days and stores a year of data. The ring features a redesigned heart-rate sensor, faster processor, and improved safety features. Preorders are $479, US availability is blocked due to Oura patent issues, and shipments start in March. The Jade real-time biointelligence AI platform will roll out globally, offering health insights and, in future updates, smart-home controls and services.
The article outlines five practical settings you can adjust on your Apple Watch to improve heart-rate measurements, emphasizing a snug wrist fit and proper calibration so readings are more reliable during workouts and everyday wear.
The author tested OpenAI's ChatGPT Health and Anthropic's Claude by uploading a decade of Apple Health data (and later medical records) to obtain a simple cardiac-health grade. Outputs swung widely—ChatGPT gave an F, then a D after adding records; Claude varied between C and B—driven by noisy VO2 max estimates and changing resting heart-rate data. Experts say the analyses are not medical advice, and privacy promises to protect data aren’t HIPAA-covered. While AI health tools could unlock insights, the article argues they’re not ready for personal clinical decisions and should mainly support prepping for a doctor visit.
OpenAI has agreed to acquire Torch, a one-year-old AI healthcare app, for about $100 million in equity (roughly $60 million upfront with the rest in stock to retain employees), a move that extends OpenAI’s reach into health-data analysis from providers like Kaiser Permanente to apps like Apple Health and firms such as Prenuvo.
Fitbit's app is being redesigned with a new AI-powered Personal Health Coach, built with Google's Gemini, offering personalized health and fitness guidance, better data visualization, and customization features, available in an open beta for Fitbit Premium subscribers, with a focus on scientific research and partnerships to ensure reliable health advice.
The UK Biobank completed the world's largest whole-body imaging project, scanning 100,000 volunteers over 15 years, creating an extensive dataset that is revolutionizing disease research, diagnostics, and AI development for early detection and understanding of health and aging.
RFK Jr. suggests all Americans use health-tracking wearables to monitor their health, but experts raise concerns about data security, privacy, and government access, emphasizing the risks of data breaches and misuse.
Washington and 19 other states sued the federal government over the decision to share Medicaid enrollees' personal health data with ICE, raising concerns about privacy and deportation efforts.
The article criticizes the current state of AI-generated fitness summaries from wearables, highlighting their superficiality, lack of context, and limited usefulness, especially in complex scenarios like injuries. Despite widespread adoption and positive user feedback, the summaries often fail to provide meaningful insights or actionable advice, revealing the limitations of AI in understanding nuanced health data. The author suggests that these features are more about marketing than delivering real value, and hopes for more personalized, insightful AI in the future.
The article reflects on the collapse of 23andMe, emphasizing lessons for the future of consumer genomics, including the importance of clinician partnerships, the limitations of HIPAA compliance, and the need for better governance and transparency of health data. It highlights the company's strategic missteps and the broader implications for health data ownership, trust, and regulation in the evolving digital health landscape.
The increasing availability of fitness trackers and wearables has provided users with an overwhelming amount of health data, but experts caution that more data does not necessarily lead to better health outcomes. While these devices offer a range of measurements from heart rate to sleep time, not all data is considered helpful, and the real impact depends on the individual wearer. Additionally, many of these devices are not regulated by the FDA, and some claims about their capabilities have been cautioned against.