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FDA Exempts Non-Medical Wearables and Information-Only AI From Routine Oversight

The agency established that only tools marketed with clinical-grade claims will be treated as medical devices.

Overview

  • Commissioner Marty Makary said devices and software that provide general health information can operate without FDA regulation if they do not claim medical- or diagnostic-grade performance.
  • Products marketed as providing clinical measurements, such as blood pressure readings suitable for diagnosis or treatment decisions, will remain under FDA oversight.
  • The FDA issued guidance on AI support tools and indicated it does not plan to regulate platforms that merely provide information, including services like Google and ChatGPT.
  • Makary emphasized that clinicians and the marketplace should determine the accuracy and adoption of nonmedical-grade wearables, with the FDA focusing on guarding against major safety risks.
  • The commissioner cautioned against changing medications based on screening estimates, and Reuters reported shares of Abbott, Medtronic, Dexcom, and Garmin rose following the clarification.