Apple Unveils AI-Powered Virtual Health Coach and Health+ Service in New Healthcare Push
Image Credit: Laurenz Heymann | Splash
Apple, led by CEO Tim Cook, is developing a new virtual health service, aligning with the company’s long-standing focus on healthcare. Cook has repeatedly highlighted healthcare as a key priority for Apple, a perspective that has driven efforts to enhance the Apple Watch with health-monitoring capabilities and expand the Health app’s role in tracking user activity.
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Health Features Expand Across Apple Devices
The company has already introduced notable health-related updates. AirPods now double as hearing aids, supported by medical-grade hearing tests available to users. Meanwhile, Apple is working on a glucose monitor for the Apple Watch, a project initiated over 15 years ago during Steve Jobs’ tenure. This feature aims to identify prediabetic conditions, potentially enabling users to address risks before diabetes develops. Additional sensors for blood oxygen levels and hypertension are also under development, though these remain years from public availability, reflecting the technical challenges involved.
Project Mulberry: AI Integration in Health App
Details of a confidential initiative, referred to as Project Mulberry, have surfaced through Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. This project involves an overhaul of the Health app, incorporating an artificial intelligence system designed to act as a virtual health coach. The AI would draw on data from a user’s iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods to construct a medical profile, then provide customized health advice based on that information.
Apple is training this AI with input from its internal medical staff and plans to involve external specialists in areas such as sleep, nutrition, physical therapy, mental health, and cardiology. These experts will also create instructional videos to explain medical conditions and suggest lifestyle adjustments. For example, if the Health app detects irregular heart-rate data, a video about heart disease risks might be presented to the user.
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Potential Health+ Service and Enhanced Features
Reports indicate that Project Mulberry could eventually launch as Health+, with Apple seeking a doctor to represent the service publicly. The revamped Health app is expected to emphasize food tracking and nutrition features, addressing a growing demand for dietary insights. The technology may also extend to Apple’s Fitness+ platform, including a feature that uses the iPhone’s rear camera to analyze workout form and offer technique suggestions.
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Healthcare as a Long-Term Focus
Cook’s emphasis on healthcare has shaped Apple’s product strategy for years. The Apple Watch already monitors metrics like heart rate and physical activity, while the Health app consolidates this data for users. The addition of an AI-driven coach builds on these foundations, aiming to deliver more personalized health guidance. However, the timeline for these features remains unclear, as Apple contends with regulatory, technical, and user-acceptance considerations.
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Implications for Technology and Medicine
Apple’s move into virtual healthcare reflects a wider shift among tech companies toward medical applications. By integrating its device ecosystem with AI, Apple seeks to provide a cohesive health-monitoring experience. Concerns about data privacy and the reliability of AI-generated advice persist, though the involvement of qualified doctors in the project may address some of these issues, lending credibility to the system.
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Source: The Sun
