To understand how Samsung’s AI ecosystem is poised to transform the future of wellness, Samsung Newsroom observed the second Tech Forum session, titled “The Role of Technology for a Healthier Life.”

(From left to right) Dr. Vanessa Hill, Dr. Hon Pak, Dr. Patrick O’Connor, Emily English and Dr. Kyu Rhee

Healthy Living Starts With a Holistic Approach 

Moderator Dr. Vanessa Hill, an award-winning science communicator and sleep scientist, started the discussion by providing insights into the practical utility of today’s health technology. 

While advancements such as wearable devices, health apps and telehealth platforms have made health management more accessible, the sheer volume of information can lead to confusion — making it easy to overlook critical insights amid an overwhelming sea of data. 

Dr. Patrick O’Connor from the University of Georgia

“The issue is not the amount of data but the fragmentation,” said Dr. Patrick O’Connor, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Mary Frances Early College of Education, University of Georgia. “The key is to bring the scattered data together to create a comprehensive understanding, as health requires a holistic approach due to the interconnectedness of so many factors.” 

“As a sleep scientist I know the importance of gathering health data around the clock. Identifying abnormalities in metrics like heart rate, temperature or even snoring during sleep is key to not only unlocking better sleep, but better overall health,” said Dr. Hill, who emphasised that sleep is the foundation of holistic health. 

Personalised Care Through Various Health Metrics and Continuous Tracking 

The discussion also explored the importance of adding new health metrics to track and monitoring those metrics in a continuous manner.

Dr. Kyu Rhee from the NACHC

“Continuous health monitoring of physical activity, sleep, nutrition and stress should become new, additional vital signs for users and health professionals,” said Dr. Kyu Rhee, President and CEO of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). “Combining this essential health data with clinical data powered by AI insights has the potential to transform the health system by improving health outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and empowering patients, their caregivers and healthcare teams.” 

Dr. Hon Pak from Samsung Electronics

One health metric receiving a substantial amount of attention from both Samsung and the digital health industry in general is blood glucose. 

“Blood glucose is an area Samsung has been deeply invested in, and we’ve made significant progress in developing CGM-integrated nutrition coaching as well as enhancing non-invasive technologies for tracking blood glucose levels,” said Dr. Hon Pak, Senior Vice President and Head of Digital Health Team, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics, sharing the company’s roadmap for blood glucose management and end-to-end (E2E) healthcare experiences. “These advancements are all part of our work to deliver more proactive and preventive disease detection solutions to everyone, helping lower healthcare burdens on people, their families and society at large.” 

Emily English, a BSc nutritionist

“There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to health and nutrition, it’s a journey that requires a holistic understanding of yourself,” said Emily English, a BSc nutritionist. “Wellness technology is helping provide a full 360-view of your life. New solutions that offer easy access to health metrics like blood glucose will offer a more holistic understanding of our bodies and revolutionise the way we manage our everyday health.” 

Ushering in the Era of Personalised Health Insights 

The discussion touched on how AI can translate tracked health data into actionable and meaningful insights. 

The Tech Forum discussion on Health AI

In an effort to consolidate disparate data onto a single platform, Samsung has collaborated with Dr. O’Connor’s research team to develop Energy Score — a feature that enhances the digital healthcare experience. “New AI-enabled features like Energy Score have become a jumping off point for broader health innovations,” explained Dr. Pak. Calculated based on health indicators such as activity levels, sleep, heart rate during sleep and heart rate variability during sleep, Energy Score exemplifies how wearable devices and AI can support a holistic and personalised approach to health and wellness management. 

Dr. Patrick O’Connor describes Energy Score.

“Monitoring overall readiness might benefit from minimally invasive brain sensing technology,” said Dr. O’Connor. “Today, we are able to leverage non-invasive technology, the available science and AI to generate an Energy Score, helping translate complex data into an intuitive and understandable index.” 

Dr. Pak also teased Samsung’s upcoming plans to expand the AI capabilities of Energy Score to include nutrition, mental health and even mobile usage patterns — offering users deeper and more comprehensive insights into their overall well-being. 

The Health AI session underscored the importance of a holistic approach to health management, highlighting the potential of personalised health experiences powered by continuous health monitoring. As AI becomes an indispensable partner in modern wellness, Samsung’s innovative technology is set to drive a new era of tailored and comprehensive health solutions. 

With over 25 years of experience in the medical field and now as Head of Digital Health team at Samsung Electronics, I spend a lot of time contemplating how technology can truly drive progress in healthcare, rather than being just another innovation for innovation’s sake. That’s why I’m very excited about AI as it offers new ways to address many of society’s health problems by simplifying complexity and at scale.

In our ongoing work to reimagine healthcare, Samsung is leveraging advanced AI algorithms and extensive technical expertise to develop solutions like Energy Score. This feature quantifies physical and mental energy levels through multiple health indicators including sleep, heart health and physical activity^[1]. Our vision is to include more comprehensive metrics like nutrition, mental health, and additional mobile usage patterns to provide a holistic view of users’ health status, powered by AI.

AI holds great promise for early disease prevention through analysing patterns and behaviors, detecting abnormalities, and even predicting potential health issues. By combining our long-standing sensor innovations with AI leadership, we aim to elevate our capabilities in preventing diseases, beyond sleep apnea and expanding to cardio-metabolic conditions. In particular, blood glucose is a big area of focus for us, and Samsung has been working to develop a sensor algorithm that predicts early signs of diabetes – along with non-invasive blood glucose monitoring technology and continuous glucose monitoring-integrated nutrition coaching.

Our goal is to support proactive health management, lowering healthcare burdens on individuals, families and communities at large. I strongly believe that AI will revolutionise the digital health industry and simplify the wellness journey for everyone. As a global tech leader, Samsung is uniquely equipped to make this a reality with our mix of technology innovations and a growing ecosystem of partners.

[1] Intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only. Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, treatment of any medical condition or disease. The measurements are for your personal reference only. Please consult a medical professional for advice.

LONDON, U.K. – 19 November 2024 – One UI 6 Watch will soon be available to a wider range of Galaxy Watch devices through the latest software update^[1]. Beginning to roll out today, the update will bring select features from the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch7^[2] to previous generations of Galaxy Watch around the world including Galaxy Watch6, Galaxy Watch6 Classic, Galaxy Watch5, Galaxy Watch5 Pro, Galaxy Watch4, Galaxy Watch4 Classic and Galaxy Watch FE.

The One UI 6 Watch update offers personalised insights to even more users for a holistic and comprehensive understanding of health^[3]. With Energy Score, users can better understand their physical and mental conditions through an intuitive score calculated from various health metrics including sleep, activity, sleeping heart rate and sleeping heart rate variability. Users can also access personalised recommendations, powered by Galaxy AI^[4], to support health improvement. For sleep tracking, receive a deeper and more accurate understanding of sleep with a detailed analysis powered by an advanced AI algorithm and new sleep metrics, including movement during sleep, sleep latency, heart rate and respiratory rate.

The expansion of One UI 6 Watch empowers more users to stay motivated and conquer their fitness goals with personalised experiences. Monitor progress in real time when running or cycling with Race, which compares changes in current and past performance to encourage users to make improvements. Workout Routine allows users to combine various exercises and create personalised routines, uniquely tailored to their individual goals and preferences.

Furthermore, the latest update provides new watch faces to best suit various needs or preferences that are both stylish and functional. For instance, use the Simple Digital watch face to reflect a minimalist design, or the Ultra Info Board watch face to check information at a glance without sacrificing style. The expansion of One UI 6 Watch also allows users to enjoy more seamless experiences with connected Galaxy devices. When paired with a compatible Galaxy smartphone, users can effortlessly send suitable responses with AI-powered Suggested replies. With simple and intuitive Double Pinch Gestures, a connected Galaxy smartphone can be easily controlled right from the wrist to answer calls, dismiss alarms, take photos and even more.

[1] The software update will come first to the Galaxy Watch6 series and then become available sequentially to previous generations. Feature availability and support may vary by market, carrier, model and paired smartphone.

[2] For more information on relevant product features and disclaimers, please click the hyperlink.

[3] Intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only. Not intended for use in the detection, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring or management of any medical condition or disease. Any health-related information accessed through the device and/or application should not be treated as medical advice. Users should seek any medical advice from a physician. Certain features may vary by market, carrier or paired device.

[4] Samsung does not make any promises, assurances or guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the output provided by AI features. Samsung account login may be required to use certain Samsung AI features. Galaxy AI service may be limited for minors in certain regions with age restrictions over AI usage. Galaxy AI features will be provided for free until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices. Different terms may apply for AI features provided by third parties.

The smallest and most compact form factor in the Galaxy wearable portfolio, the Galaxy Ring fits comfortably on users’ fingers like a traditional ring. Equipped with cutting-edge sensors and Galaxy AI features, the Galaxy Ring offers a powerful health management experience.

Samsung Newsroom sat down with Sungjin Kim and Yujin Roh from the Wearable Product Planning Group, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics, to learn how the Galaxy Ring came to be.

Ultra-Compact Form Factor Optimised for 24/7 Health Monitoring

Q. What inspired the creation of the Galaxy Ring, a completely new addition to Samsung’s wearable lineup?

Kim: We’ve been exploring new opportunities in the wearable market with a particular focus on the rapidly growing field of health management. This led us to look for the optimal form factor to provide more accurate, uninterrupted health data for personalised health solutions. After evaluating various form factors, we settled on the ring — a user-friendly, small and lightweight shape that can be worn 24/7.

▲ Sungjin Kim

Q. What key health management benefits does the Galaxy Ring offer?

Roh: Sleep is the foundation of health. The Galaxy Ring is comfortable enough to wear while sleeping and can last up to a week on a single charge,[1] making it ideal for collecting detailed and in-depth sleep data. A powerful sleep AI algorithm provides advanced sleep insights to help users better understand and improve their sleep. Furthermore, Energy Score analyses sleep quality, activity levels, sleeping heart rate and sleeping heart rate variability data to deliver a daily health index to users.

▲ Yujin Roh

Q. What factors were considered during the design process?

Kim: To maximise the advantages of the ring form, we examined the historical and biological significance of rings before incorporating these insights into the product. For example, we adopted a simple yet modern concave style to enhance the Galaxy Ring’s value as an everyday accessory. Moreover, the charging case and packaging have clamshell designs reminiscent of a jewelry box — elevating the quality of the product down to the finest details that users touch.

▲ Packaging and charging case for the Galaxy Ring

The Quest for an Effortless User Experience

Q. What was your primary focus during the planning process?

Kim: Since our main focus was to provide users with meaningful health insights, we engaged in extensive discussions with the Digital Health Team and other relevant departments. One notable outcome of these collaborations is the introduction of Energy Score on Samsung Health. In addition, users can receive personalised health insights powered by Galaxy AI to help them reach their health goals. This innovation marks a new step in active and autonomous health management, moving beyond mere monitoring to offer users valuable insights and guidance for healthier lifestyles.

▲ The Galaxy Ring features a heart rate sensor, accelerometer and skin temperature sensor.

Roh: Comfort and aesthetics were also key priorities for us. Users were pleasantly surprised by how light the wearable is. During the planning phase, we conducted extensive research to ensure lightweight comfort. In addition, we carefully selected colours that complement a wide range of styles.

▲ The Galaxy Ring is available in Titanium Black, Titanium Silver and Titanium Gold.

Q. What was the biggest challenge in designing the Galaxy Ring?

Roh: Designing and implementing gestures was particularly challenging. To create a connected Galaxy ecosystem, we considered various user scenarios to ensure the product would be practical and convenient for everyone. As a result, we introduced the alarm turnoff feature — allowing users to dismiss the wake-up alarm on their Galaxy smartphone with a double-pinch gesture on the Galaxy Ring. This same movement can also control the Galaxy smartphone’s camera, maximising connectivity between devices.

Q. What has been the most memorable feedback since the Galaxy Ring launched?

Kim: Unlike our previous products, we released teasers for the Galaxy Ring before its launch to attract attention. I vividly remember how excitement for the wearable exploded beyond our expectations when the product was revealed. This surge in interest energised everyone working on the product, fueling our passion during the final stretch of the launch. I’m proud to say that every single member of the team worked hard to perfect the device.

Roh: The consumer feedback that pleased me the most was, “I love how it gives me such thorough health information, from sleep to exercise, when all I did was wear it.” We frequently hear that the product is so comfortable that users forget they have it on. This makes us proud as it shows that our focus during the planning stage paid off. We’re grateful that users recognised our efforts in creating a premium experience — from the Galaxy Ring’s aesthetic to the charging case and practical sizing kit that allows users to measure their ring size in advance.

▲ (From left) Sungjin Kim and Yujin Roh discuss the product planning process behind the Galaxy Ring.

Ushering in a New Era of Health Management

Q. In one word or sentence, how would you describe the Galaxy Ring?

Kim: I would say it’s a “game changer.” The Galaxy Ring is the first new form factor since the Galaxy Watch series — offering an even more intimate health experience with powerful capabilities packed into a small, lightweight device. Achieving this feat required hard work from the development and design teams as well as various other departments. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in creating this product.

Roh: In a word, it’s the “beginning.” For some, the Galaxy Ring marks the start of a new day. For others, the device signifies the commencement of a full-blown health management journey. Nonetheless, we hope it will open a new era of possibilities in the wearable market.

▲ (From left) Yujin Roh and Sungjin Kim pose for a photo with the Galaxy Ring.

Q. What’s next for the Galaxy Ring?

Kim: We aim to maximise the benefits of this ultra-small form factor to track and manage health data in the simplest way possible. As the wearable market continues to rapidly grow with a variety of products and services expected to emerge, our teams are dedicated to developing robust solutions that meet users’ needs.

Roh: Beyond measuring health information, we will continue to explore ways of providing more specific insights and meaningful health improvements tailored to each user’s environment. We appreciate the continued interest in our innovations and hope users will share our anticipation for upcoming products.

The creation of the Galaxy Ring — the smallest yet most powerful product in the Galaxy wearable lineup — was driven by the passion and tireless efforts of many dedicated individuals. Samsung looks forward to the new horizons the Galaxy Ring will unlock for health management in users’ everyday lives.

[1] Battery life is based on testing conducted with the size 12 and size 13 Galaxy Ring. Battery life of the size 12 and size 13 Galaxy Ring lasts up to 7 days on a single charge. Battery life varies by ring size. Battery life is based on results from internal lab tests for typical usage pattern scenarios conducted by Samsung. Tested with results from a pre-released version of the device under the scenario of Sleep Tracking for 6 hours, Auto Workout Detection for 1 hour and 30 minutes and several specific events (20 times of reconnection after disconnection, 3 times of Samsung Health app setting change, 0.5 times of Find My Ring execution, 3 minutes of Gestures execution) assuming 24 hours of use per day. Actual battery life may vary depending on different usage patterns, device model or the battery manufacturer. Rated capacity is 17mAh for Galaxy Ring sizes 5,6,7 (battery life lasts up to 6 days on a single charge), 18.5mAh for sizes 8,9,10,11 (battery life lasts up to 6 days on a single charge) and 22.5mAh for sizes 12,13 (battery life lasts up to 7 days on a single charge). Testing conducted by Samsung using Fast Charging USB C Cable and Samsung 25W USB C Power Adapter. Charge time varies with settings, usage patterns and environmental factors; actual results may vary.