Revolutionizing Health and Wellness with Tech
The 2025 Consumer Electronics Show, which ran from 7-10 January, introduced a wealth of new and exciting innovations, especially in the field of health and fitness technology. And yes, AI is in everything. Well, almost everything.
Smartwatches
Wrist-mounted health and fitness technology is nothing new. But two smartwatches unveiled at CES 2025 have some eye-opening features.
Amazon’s Voice Controlled Smartwatch
From heart rate to VO2 Max and beyond, consumer smartwatch health monitoring is already here. The Amzfit Active 2 takes it to a whole new level. The Amzfit Active 2 leverages AI in several interesting ways–first, to provide personalized women’s health tracking, and second, as the power behind the Zepp Flow app. The app will enable users to update their calendars, adjust their watch settings, and even compose WhatsApp messages. And if that’s not enough, it’s voice-controlled. The Amzfit Active 2 is surprisingly affordable, coming in at less than $100.
Garmin Instinct 3
Another fitness watch unveiled at the show was the Garmin Instinct 3. There are two versions: the Solar Instinct 3, which, as the name suggests, runs on solar power, and the AMOLED version, which can run for up to 24 days between charges. Health features include sleep and energy tracking, heart and respiration monitoring, abnormal heart rate alarm, sleep coach, health snapshot, women’s health tracking, and more.
Skin Care
Two devices stood out for skin health analysis and care.
L’Oreal Skin Analysis Device
L’Oreal’s tabletop device, the Cell BioPrint, is aimed at preventing and treating cosmetic problems such as discoloration, sometimes before they begin. The non-invasive process analyzes the protein composition of the user’s skin, which affects how skin ages. Based on the results of the analysis, the Cell BioPrint can tell which skin care products will work for any given user, the user’s unique rate of aging, and more. The Cell BioPrint will then issue personalized skin care recommendations for the user. L’Oreal plans to pilot the device in Asia later this year.
A Smart Mirror for Beauty
Samsung’s AI-powered micro-LED mirror isn’t actually a mirror. Its surface is a micro-patterned mirror structure with a surface made from aluminum and niobium. Samsung’s mirror was developed in partnership with Amorepacific, a Korean cosmetic brand. Its analysis algorithm leverages data from more than 20,000 skin diagnoses to provide live feedback on the state of the user’s face, as well as skin care recommendations. Samsung’s mirror looks at four different qualities: wrinkles, pores, skin tone, and redness. From this information, it recommends products from Samsung’s cosmetic partners.
From the Adorable to the Impressive
Quite a few of the products launched at CES 2025 defy categorization. But each one, from the cutesy to the impactful, deserve your attention.
Assistive Smart Glasses
e-Sight, a company that produces medical devices for vision care, exhibited the eSight Go. The eSight Go is a digital assistive device for people with central vision loss from macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and other conditions. TheeSight Go has a high definition camera on the nose piece, which takes continuous video footage. The device enhances and optimizes the footage, then presents it to the user on HD OLED screens. Users can add their lens prescriptions for further fine-tuning.
Hormone Testing via Smartphone
Between home health monitoring and bringing cheap, efficient care to remote areas, smartphone medicine is already making a difference, although consumer level smartphone health tech still has a way to go. However, Eli’s Hormometer stick may change that. Eli bills the Hormometer as the “first at-home technology providing real-time and lifelong health insights from the hormones in your saliva.” The user places the Hormometer stick in their mouth, waits 30 seconds, then, after 20 minutes, photographs the stick with their iPhone. The app will then give a snapshot of the user’s health based on cortisol and progesterone, and will give tips for improvement. No word if or when the Hormometer will be available for Android.
A Smart Ring with AFib Tech
One of the most interesting pieces of tech unveiled at the show was a smart ring from Circular. Circular’s Ring 2 has an atrial fibrillation detection algorithm that’s cleared by the FDA. Its battery runs for up to eight days between charges–the same as the Samsung Galaxy Ring. If that’s not enough, the Ring 2 can be sized digitally, using your smartphone, unlike other rings, which require a plastic sizing kit.
Full Health Scan via Smart Mirror
Mirror, mirror on the wall… The Withings Omnia is a smart, connected, AI-powered mirror that can give you an image of your health, inside and out. The Omnia connects with other Withings devices that the user may have to provide a comprehensive readout of key health metrics, including metabolic health, heart health, heart rate, blood pressure, and more. It will be able to run an ECG scan and check for signs of atrial fibrillation, too. Depending on the other devices any given user may have, the Omnia could also provide information about sleep, VO2 Max, and other metrics. The integrated chatbot will be able to give recommendations for improving health and fitness, tell you if it thinks you should see a doctor, and answer users’ questions about their physical condition. There’s no release date, yet, but it’s pretty exciting.
A Robotic Kitten That Protects Against Burns
Inspired by a father who wanted help cooling his baby’s food, this tiny feline robot that sits on the rim of a cup can tell you if your hot drink has reached a safe temperature. The Nékojita FuFu from Yukai Engineering has an internal fan that simulates human breathing and can be adjusted to mimic different breathing rates. The FuFu will be released in Japan later this year, and will cost around $20.
Interactive, AI-Powered Strength Training
If there’s one activity that remains stubbornly offline, it’s strength training. One doesn’t need advanced technology, after all, to count reps and sets. And at first glance, it doesn’t seem like an activity that needs AI. But AI is a hammer looking for a nail, and that search has led to Amp Fitness, an AI-powered strength machine that’s being touted as “Peloton for gym rats.” Amp Fitness is an adjustable, wall-mounted cable machine with a companion and an app. You can use the app to set the type and level of resistance. There are also gamified and competitive features like leaderboards, as well as follow-along programs with influencers. The AI system automatically adapts programs for individual users. It’s just become available in the US, and costs around $1795.
IoT-Powered Yoga Mat
A lot of people do Yoga to unplug, both literally and metaphorically. But if you’d like your practice analyzed, digitized, and connected, then yoctoMat might be right up your street. yoctoMat bills itself as a “Yoga mat and holistic wellness service.” The pressure-sensitive mat and its app can help users to keep track of their posture, balance, center of gravity and other factors. Instructors can edit lesson sequences and manage student information.