The vet visit might look a little different in the near future. At the VivaTech 2026 conference in Paris, Samsung unveiled a new AI-powered pet health feature that lets owners snap a photo of their dog or cat and receive an instant screening for several common conditions, all from a smartphone.
Developed in partnership with Lifet, a startup incubated through Samsung's external accelerator program, the tool is built into Samsung's SmartThings and Pet Care services. Users simply open the app, take or upload a clear photo of their pet, and cloud-based AI vision models analyze the image for early signs of three prevalent conditions: cataracts, dental disease such as periodontal disease and tooth decay, and patellar luxation, a joint condition in which the kneecap slips out of place and causes pain or lameness.
Lifet reports an accuracy rate of up to 97 percent under optimal conditions, meaning good lighting, a steady camera, and a clear view of the relevant area. Real-world results will naturally vary based on image quality. Samsung is explicit that the feature is designed as an at-home screening aid only, and is not a replacement for a professional veterinary diagnosis. If the AI flags a potential concern, your next step should still be a call to your vet.
What makes this genuinely interesting for pet parents is the frictionless format. Unlike dedicated pet health wearables that require ongoing subscriptions, this feature lives inside a smartphone most Galaxy owners already carry. The broader goal fits into Samsung's Connected Care initiative, which aims to extend its health-monitoring technology from humans to the entire household, pets included.
Samsung has not confirmed a public release date, and availability will depend on device model, country, and software version. The feature showed up in multiple media reports from VivaTech the week of June 17, 2026, including The Verge, Android Authority, and SamMobile, confirming it is actively in development.
For cat and dog owners, the practical takeaway is simple: a tool that helps you notice something worth checking earlier than you might otherwise is a meaningful addition to a pet parent's toolkit, as long as it leads you toward a vet rather than away from one.
Sources: The Verge · Android Authority · SamMobile · Samsung Mobile Press (official) · AndroidHeadlines