Via jobs.abbott
The medical device giant unveiled a new feature at CES 2026 that uses image recognition to predict how meals will affect blood sugar levels.
Abbott is doubling down on artificial intelligence in diabetes care, rolling out a new tool called Libre Assist that lets users snap a photo of their meal and get a prediction of how it will affect their glucose levels. The feature, launched on January 5, 2026 at CES, represents the latest step in what the company says has been more than a decade of embedding algorithmic AI into its FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring platform.
The tool works like a nutritionist living inside your phone. Point your camera at a plate of pasta, and Libre Assist uses image recognition to assess the meal, then rates it on a green, yellow, or orange scale based on its predicted glucose impact. It also provides personalized dietary recommendations, turning raw data into something a user can actually act on before the first bite.
A decade of AI, no outside help needed #
Abbott executives have emphasized that the company’s use of AI in glucose monitoring is not new. The FreeStyle Libre platform has incorporated algorithmic intelligence for over ten years, quietly crunching glucose data in the background to deliver insights to users and clinicians. Libre Assist is the most consumer-facing expression of that work yet, adding a visual and interactive layer to a system that previously operated more behind the scenes.
The FreeStyle Libre remains Abbott’s flagship continuous glucose monitoring device, worn as a small sensor on the back of the arm that tracks glucose levels around the clock. Libre Assist now extends the platform’s utility beyond passive monitoring into active meal planning.
Abbott’s existing partnerships in diabetes care include collaborations with Medtronic and Novo Nordisk, but no public records indicate a collaborative partnership between Abbott and Google in digital health or glucose monitoring. The AI engine powering Libre Assist appears to be entirely Abbott’s own creation.
What to watch from here #
For the roughly 537 million adults worldwide living with diabetes, the immediate question is simpler: does photographing your lunch and getting a glucose prediction actually change behavior? If Libre Assist can nudge users toward better meal choices before their blood sugar spikes rather than after, Abbott will have turned a decade of quiet algorithmic work into something that genuinely moves the needle on diabetes management. Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our