Apple to Introduce AI-Powered Doctor in Revamped Health App: Details and Expected Release
Apple is making a bold move in artificial intelligence by planning a comprehensive update to its Health app, integrating a feature akin to an ‘AI doctor,’ according to a Bloomberg report. This step aligns with CEO Tim Cook’s conviction that healthcare will define Apple’s most profound legacy. Speaking in 2019, Cook remarked, “If you zoom out into the future, and you look back, and you ask the question, ‘What was Apple’s greatest contribution to mankind?’ it will be about health.”
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, a noted Apple analyst, reported that while the company’s goal of embedding a non-invasive glucose monitor in the Apple Watch remains years away, its health team is prioritizing AI to enhance user well-being.
As outlined by Bloomberg, Apple’s Project Mulberry is driving this transformation of the Health app. The project introduces an AI-powered health coach capable of replicating some diagnostic tasks performed by physicians. The updated app will reportedly gather data from devices such as the iPhone, Apple Watch, earbuds, and even third-party products, enabling the AI to deliver personalized health advice based on this information.
On the development front, Apple is actively training its AI with insights from its staff physicians and intends to collaborate with external doctors. The company is also establishing a facility near Oakland, California, where medical professionals will produce video content for the app. Additionally, Apple is seeking a charismatic doctor to serve as a host for the revamped Health app. Though Gurman provides few details about this role, it may reflect an effort to infuse a human touch, mirroring strategies used by Google and OpenAI with their AI chatbot voices.
This initiative is a top priority for Sumbul Desai, the physician overseeing Apple’s health division, with significant involvement from Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams.
Gurman suggests the project is advancing swiftly, potentially launching with iOS 19.4. Apple will unveil iOS 19 at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) from June 9-13, 2025, with the full release expected alongside the iPhone 17 in September. With iOS 18.4 slated for April 1, a successful Health app overhaul could see the AI doctor feature debut around the same period the following year, likely with iOS 19.4.
Apple’s broader AI journey has been turbulent. Despite heavy investments, the company lags behind competitors like Google and Samsung, who have rolled out features such as Circle to Search, while Apple’s efforts stumble. Unveiled at WWDC 2024 with iOS 18, Apple Intelligence sparked optimism due to the company’s track record of perfecting features. Yet, the rollout has been uneven—many promised capabilities were absent from the iPhone 16’s initial release and have trickled out since. A news summary tool in the iOS 18.3 beta drew criticism from the BBC and other outlets for inaccuracies, leading Apple to halt AI-generated summaries for news and entertainment apps.