AI health gadgets at CES prompt expert caution

At CES, experts raised concerns about the accuracy and privacy of AI-powered health gadgets as the FDA announced eased oversight for some low-risk wellness products.

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, companies demonstrated AI-powered health gadgets, such as a smart scale and a hormone tracker. Tech and health experts at the show questioned the accuracy of those devices and raised concerns about how consumer data are handled. The Food and Drug Administration announced it would relax regulations for certain "low-risk" general wellness products during the event. Federal moves to ease AI guardrails and expand AI use were also noted by officials and agencies. Key points: - The FDA announced a plan to relax oversight of some low-risk wellness products, and the change was highlighted at CES. - Experts said AI tools can assist with tasks like image analysis and workflow but can also produce incorrect outputs and reproduce bias. - Privacy concerns were raised because consumer device data are not covered by HIPAA and could be used to train models or be sold, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation. - Product makers told reporters their devices aim to fill gaps in care and that they protect customer privacy. Summary: The regulatory announcements came as industry booths showcased AI health gadgets and as experts questioned device accuracy and data practices. Undetermined at this time.