AI-equipped Apple Watch Can Detect Irregular Heartbeat and Signs of a Stroke

Apple has been pitching the Watch with ResearchKit to doctors and scientists as a serious health tool. Cardiogram initiated the research last year to figure out whether it could detect the signs of a stroke, a quarter of which are caused by irregular heartbeats. The study drew 6,158 Apple Watch users via the Cardiogram app -- most had normal EKG readings, but 200 had an existing AF condition that made their hearts beat erratically. Engineers used those subjects to train a deep learning system to discern patients with arrhythmia vs. those with normal heartbeats. They then tested the system on 51 patients scheduled for a procedure to restore normal heart rhythms.