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Apple’s initiatives in the health sector are far ahead of its rivals. The company’s strategy isn't solely about innovation; it also emphasizes substantial collaboration with professionals, rigorous validation, and sustained engagement with its user community through medical research.
One of the recent advancements is the introduction of a hearing aid feature in AirPods. Additionally, capabilities like fall detection and monitoring for irregular heart rhythms are part of its ever-evolving health tech. The next major development could involve an AI-driven assistant tailored to function like a doctor, potentially debuting next year.
“This initiative is termed Project Mulberry, which aims to completely overhaul the Health app alongside a virtual health coach powered by a new AI system designed to emulate a real doctor to some degree,” reports Bloomberg.
What to expect from an Apple AI coach?
Reports indicate that Apple is aiming for a broad rollout of this technology with the upcoming iOS 19.4 update expected in the spring or summer of next year. This undertaking is ambitious by Apple’s standards but is not entirely unprecedented.
The AI health coach will analyze all the health and wellness data gathered within the Health app. Using this information, it will deliver personalized guidance. In 2024, Google rolled out a “Personal AI” feature in the Fitbit ecosystem that provides actionable insights tailored to users' lifestyles and exercise patterns.
Last year, a startup named ExerRing launched a smart ring that also includes an AI coach, capable of ECG monitoring and blood pressure sensing, accessible through a companion mobile application.
Fitting nicely with future hardware upgrades
Apple's initiatives are comprehensive. “The company is currently training the AI coach using data from its internal healthcare experts and is also looking to collaborate with external specialists in areas such as sleep, nutrition, physical therapy, mental health, and cardiology to produce educational content,” the Bloomberg report notes.
From a practical standpoint, if the Apple Watch detects an increase in heart rate, the Health app will record this and provide a video from a medical professional explaining the next steps. Similar support will be available for dietary recommendations.
The AI coach could even evaluate users’ workout sessions through their phone’s camera, offering real-time feedback and suggestions. This feature could integrate well with Apple’s planned AirPods featuring built-in cameras and similar upgrades for the Apple Watch.
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