Apple Scales Back Standalone AI Health Coach, Will Fold Features Into Health App [Report]

Apple has reportedly scaled back plans for a standalone AI health coach. Instead of launching the project as a dedicated service, the company is expected to break it apart and roll out specific features directly into the Health app over time.



The initiative, known internally as "Mulberry" or Health+, was wound down in recent weeks following a leadership shakeup. Services chief Eddy Cue took over the health division after longtime Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams retired late last year. According to Bloomberg, Cue concluded the existing plan wasn't competitive enough with newer rivals like Oura and Whoop. He reportedly told colleagues that Apple needs to move faster if it wants to keep up.


Rather than a single subscription bundle, Apple is expected to ship individual tools as they are ready. This includes video content produced at a dedicated studio in Oakland designed to explain medical conditions and offer wellness education. Other surviving features include gait analysis using the iPhone camera and AI-driven suggestions based on existing Health data.

The project had been struggling to reach the finish line. Initially targeted for iOS 26, the launch was pushed to this spring and then again to the release of iOS 27 in the fall before plans for the standalone service were shelved. Internal code discovered in software builds last month had even referenced the service, suggesting it was deep in development until the very end.

Competition in AI-driven health services is accelerating. OpenAI recently rolled out ChatGPT Health, a feature that plugs directly into the iPhone to analyze activity data and answer health questions. Apple has already delivered solid detection tools like hypertension notifications, but shifting from passive monitoring to active lifestyle coaching has proven more difficult.

Despite scaling back the standalone service, Apple is continuing work on health-focused AI. The company is developing a chatbot capability that allows users to ask questions about their well-being, using an internal system known as World Knowledge Answers. This functionality is expected to tie into the broader Siri overhaul slated for iOS 27 later this year.


Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on X, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for more updates.