Google is using artificial intelligence (AI) to save lives, successfully implementing Loss of Pulse Detection in the Pixel Watch 3. Initially announced in 2024 for the Pixel Watch 3 in the European Union, Google shared on Feb. 26, 2025, that it received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to implement the “first-of-its-kind feature” and begin its rollout in the United States at the end of March. In a previous blog post, Google explained that a loss of pulse happens when the heart suddenly stops beating. The condition can affect people at any age and may be caused by various issues, including primary cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, circulatory failure, overdose, or poisoning. When such a situation occurs, the watch automatically prompts a call to emergency services, potentially providing life-saving assistance. “For three years, Pixel Watch has given people peace of mind with safety and health features like Car Crash Detection, Fall Detection, Irregular...

The Black-owned water bottle brand SUPLMNT welcomes NBA player Gary Payton II as its latest investor. The brand was founded in 2020 by South Philadelphia, PA, native Jairus Morris, who aims to improve hydration in Black and brown communities. His journey as a founder was inspired by his mother, who took on multiple jobs to support the household of five children. “I grew up in a South Philly single-mother household with four siblings. My mother was my first inspiration and motivation to want to be an entrepreneur,” he said in an interview shared on Medium. “She always tried side hustles to bring in extra income for my family; whether it was selling Mary Kay or braiding hair, she did it. Moving us out of the ghetto in South Philly to a suburb in New Jersey was the best thing she could have done. It exposed me to see that there was so much more to life outside of the hood.” As an adult, he also mentioned recognizing disparities around health and wellness, which further inspired his...

Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. “Health is wealth” is a phrase that people have been using for years, and to me, it does not only refer to the health of one’s body but also to the opportunities that I see in health. The category has historically been geared towards products for men and women as a whole — and not focused on the issues that women specifically face. However, in the first half of 2024, digital health startups looking to improve women’s health outcomes saw a 3% increase in capital invested when compared to the first 6 months of 2023, showing a total of $679 million for 2024, according to PitchBook . This increased investment interest, I believe, will not only l ead to better health outcomes for women but present a set of opportunities for people to build their tech careers in this growing sector. The areas within women’s health that tech companies are targeting and show the most promise are companies focused on...

The first patient to receive gene therapy for sickle cell disease since its approval is finally home. The New York Times reported that staff members were overjoyed as 12-year-old Kendric Cromer left Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, in a wheelchair on Oct. 16, 2024. Kendric is one of approximately 20,000 people with the most severe form of sickle cell disease. This condition results from a mutation in the hemoglobin genes, causing red blood cells to take on a crescent shape. These misshaped cells can block blood vessels, leading to severe pain, stroke, organ damage, and reduced life expectancy. “I thought I would have sickle cell for the rest of my life,” Kendric said, according to The Times. Throughout his childhood, the disease had prevented him from enjoying playing basketball or riding a bike. Such activities would trigger pain and require frequent trips to the hospital. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , about 100,000 people in the U.S....

Amaya Woodley is the proud owner of an indoor cycling studio. Woodley recalled falling in love with cycling after a former coworker invited her to a class in 2017. When the pandemic hit, she purchased a bike for her home but missed being surrounded by the community. That feeling drove her to open Adrenaline+ in her hometown. It is one of the few Black-owned cycling studios in Charlotte, NC, Woodley told AFROTECH™. She opened the studio in 2023 with her co-founders: her uncle Darrell Harding, aunt Heather Harding, and her husband Theo. Together, they self-funded the boutique studio. “It was a dream that I had, but I didn’t think it would happen as quickly as it did,” Woodley, Adrenaline+, co-founder and CEO, told AFROTECH™. “There was such a need for a space like that in Charlotte, especially for Black people, people of color, who were seeking a safe space to show up as their authentic self and still get a workout and be seen and have a good time.” View this post on Instagram A post...

For nearly a decade, [solidcore] has become one of the nation’s leading boutique fitness studios with 100 locations. In April 2021, the company’s founder, Anne Mahlum, promoted Bryan Myers to CEO, according to a press release. It was a full-circle moment since the 35-year-old started as a client and transitioned into becoming [solidcore]’s president and CEO within just a few years.

Allow her to reintroduce herself! As a self-proclaimed “queen of career pivots,” Necole Kane is the epitome of persistence personified. Her initial claim to becoming widely recognized on the worldwide web began during her late 20s. Before today’s blogs like The Shade Room took over our timelines, Kane was behind the popular celebrity news and gossip blog Necole Bitchie. While the former blogger had great success with the platform — raking in 20 million visitors every month — a shift began of what she wanted for herself. There was an apparent sense of emptiness in both her personal life and in the media. Therefore, after a seven-year run, she shut down the site. The end of that chapter cleared the way for Kane’s ultimate rebrand. “I’m learning that as I create companies to always have them represent my personal growth and where I am in life,” she told AfroTech. “When I crossed over into my thirties, that’s when I started looking for more purpose and intention. I started looking...

Four-time NBA champion LeBron James is known for having one of the most rigorous workout routines in the league, and at age 36, he shows no signs of slowing down. This is why i t comes as no surprise that the NBA star has partnered with Tonal, “a digitally connected strength machine.” According to Yahoo!Finance, Tonal — considered “Peloton’s main rival” — revealed LeBron James would be its newest investor and brand partner on Wednesday Oct. 13. “To have LeBron James — one of the greatest athletes in the world — invest in Tonal is a pinnacle moment for us,” said Aly Orady, founder and CEO of Tonal. As a father of three, the NBA GOAT aims to maximize his productivity in the gym in addition to several other interests in his decision to partner with Tonal. “Every person striving for greatness must prioritize efficiency. Whether you are an athlete, CEO, artist or anyone who is trying to be great, it’s important to maximize your time and get the most out of every minute. So for me, Tonal...