Samsung announced at its CES 2026 First Look event that Galaxy wearables will detect early signs of dementia through tracking changes in speech, movement, and daily activity, aiming to provide early warnings for users and families to seek medical care, with beta rollout in select markets.
The company concluded its First Look event at CES 2026 by unveiling multiple new products, including a 130-inch Micro RGB TV. This keynote presentation extended beyond display technology to cover advancements in health monitoring on wearable devices. During the keynote, Samsung’s Vice President and Head of Digital Health, Praveen Raja, outlined the next phase for the Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring. He stated that the company is developing new tools to identify early signs of mental decline, including dementia, by utilizing data from its wearables and other connected devices.
These tools analyze specific behavioral indicators captured by the devices. For instance, they monitor slurred speech detected during interactions with Bixby, the voice assistant. They also track slower movement patterns recorded by the wearables. Additional data comes from changes in how individuals interact with other home devices within the Samsung ecosystem.
Samsung emphasizes that these features serve to alert users and their families to potential mental decline, enabling them to pursue medical evaluation promptly. The company specifies that the tools do not provide a dementia diagnosis but function as indicators prompting professional consultation. Beyond dementia detection, Samsung plans to integrate artificial intelligence more extensively across its product lineup. This includes phones, wearables, and appliances, which will deliver enhanced health-related functionalities. Devices will offer personalized health coaching tailored to user data.
Sleep guidance will improve through AI analysis of sleep patterns gathered from connected wearables. Exercise tips will become more individualized, drawing on movement and activity metrics. The system will also generate suggestions aimed at reducing risks associated with major chronic diseases, based on aggregated data from multiple devices.
Samsung positions these developments as a shift for its wearables from conventional health tracking—such as steps, heart rate, and basic vitals—to comprehensive preventive healthcare capabilities. The integration of data from wearables, smartphones, and smart home appliances supports this broader health management approach.
The company confirmed that the new dementia-detection features will launch first in beta form within select markets, though specific timelines and participating regions remain undisclosed.
