Apple Scales Back AI Health Coach Project

Apple has scaled back its ambitious plans for an AI-powered virtual health coach, shifting from a comprehensive standalone service to gradually incorporating individual features into its existing Health app. The decision, made in recent weeks, follows a leadership change within the company's health division and reflects efforts to accelerate development amid growing competition in the wellness market.

The project, internally known as Mulberry, was envisioned as a sophisticated AI assistant that would analyze health data from devices like the Apple Watch and iPhone, integrate it with lab reports and user surveys, and provide personalized guidance. It aimed to generate detailed health reports, explain medical conditions through educational videos, and recommend tailored diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes to help users manage risks such as heart disease. Apple had even established a dedicated content studio in Oakland, California, to produce videos on topics like wellness education and training plans. The service was initially targeted for release with iOS 18 last year, but delays pushed it to iOS 19 before the recent pivot.

Under new oversight, the full AI coach will not launch...