AI health gadgets at CES draw expert scrutiny

At CES in Las Vegas, companies showcased AI-powered consumer health devices while experts raised concerns about their accuracy and how personal data are handled, as the Food and Drug Administration said it will relax rules for some low-risk wellness products.

Companies at the CES trade show in Las Vegas displayed consumer devices that use AI for health, including a smart scale and an egg-shaped hormone tracker. Experts at the event questioned the accuracy of some products and raised concerns about how developers handle personal data. The Food and Drug Administration announced it will relax regulations for certain low-risk general wellness products. Vendors at the show said their devices address care gaps and that they protect customer data. Noted developments: - The Food and Drug Administration announced plans to relax oversight of some low-risk general wellness products, as reported at the show. - Experts warned that AI-based consumer health devices can produce incorrect information, promote biases, and have unclear accuracy limits. - Panelists pointed out that common privacy protections like HIPAA do not cover much consumer device data, and that companies could use such data to train models or share it. - Makers of devices showcased at CES said their products aim to fill gaps in women’s health and accessibility, and some stated that collected data are stored on the cloud and not shared. Summary: Officials announced regulatory easing for certain wellness devices while vendors displayed AI health products and defended their data practices. Experts said accuracy and data privacy remain open concerns. Undetermined at this time.