Samsung has taken a bold step toward merging health and technology with the announcement of two groundbreaking innovations: the early detection of Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD) through its Galaxy Watches, and the development of a new ear-mounted EEG device designed to analyze brain activity. Both technologies are powered by artificial intelligence and represent a major leap toward preventive digital health.
The algorithm designed to detect LVSD was developed in collaboration with the South Korean company Medical AI and is already in use at over 100 hospitals in South Korea, where it helps monitor more than 120,000 patients each month. Samsung now plans to adapt that same technology to its Galaxy Watch series, using existing PPG (photoplethysmography) sensors — without any need for additional hardware.
The feature has already received regulatory approval from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), although for now it is officially categorized as a wellness function rather than a diagnostic tool. LVSD occurs when the left ventricle of the heart fails to contract efficiently, a condition that can lead to heart failure. It accounts for nearly 50 percent of all heart failure cases worldwide, and early detection can make the difference between timely treatment and serious complications — especially since many people show no symptoms in the early stages.
At the same time, Samsung is working with Hanyang University on an innovative ear-EEG prototype, designed to capture neural signals around the ear without the need for traditional scalp electrodes. The device aims to make brain monitoring more comfortable and practical for everyday use. According to internal tests, the system can detect drowsiness in real time and even analyze video-content preferences with 92.86 percent accuracy. Although still in prototype phase, researchers believe it could become a key tool for mental health monitoring and productivity optimization in the near future.
These innovations reflect Samsung’s long-term strategy to evolve its wearables beyond step-counting and heart-rate tracking. The company wants to turn its Galaxy Watches into biomedical sentinels capable of anticipating health risks and supporting preventive medicine. Experts in digital health believe that continuous physiological monitoring combined with AI-based analysis could revolutionize chronic-disease management, reducing hospital visits and healthcare costs. Still, several challenges remain.
The collection of neurological data raises ethical concerns about privacy and consent, especially if such information were ever used for marketing or personalization purposes. Furthermore, while Samsung’s new technologies are already authorized in South Korea, their global availability will depend on local regulatory frameworks. With these two groundbreaking developments, Samsung reinforces its position as a leader in digital health innovation, combining science, empathy, and technology to create devices that not only measure time — but also safeguard life.
