Medicine · November 2026Kudos level: Bravo
A Smartwatch AI Spots High Blood Pressure Without a Cuff
Google's AI detects signs of high blood pressure from a regular smartwatch's pulse and motion sensors, with no cuff needed for calibration. In a study of 196 people across five US research sites, published in Nature, it identified 65.8 percent of those with high blood pressure, against 55.3 percent for standard in-office measurement. The method is still a research project and does not replace a diagnosis.
Source: The Decoder
Google AI Falsely Links Auckland Anaesthetic Technician to Drink-Driving Convictions
Google's AI Overview accused Tracey Melsom-Page, an Auckland anaesthetic technician with 39 years in public hospitals and no criminal history, of drink-driving convictions and lying about them, based on a 2023 Herald article that never named her. When the Herald questioned it, the AI doubled down, claiming tribunal records identified her, before admitting a 'logical error.' Google says it is investigating.
Source: NZ Herald