Artificial intelligence and wearable technology

Wearables constitute sensor-based unobtrusive devices meant to be worn continually that can measure physiologic data about their user. These devices have increased in prevalence globally in part due to their integration with artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to analyze and interpret the collected data. AI algorithms, particularly edge AI, have allowed wearables to become ubiquitous, particularly for health monitoring. They also allow wearables to transform from a strictly data-monitoring device to a data analysis and diagnostic device that improves with each new set of user information. Wearables have shown their merit in public health by minimizing the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, via either contact tracing or subtle physiologic changes in asymptomatic carriers. Despite these upsides, there remain ethical concerns and unanswered questions regarding privacy, data ownership, and monetization of information by companies benefiting from their users' data.