Apple’s AI Doctor: Inside Apple’s boldest health care push yet with a revamped app and AI-powered doctor

Over the past decade, Apple has steadily expanded its footprint in health care. From the launch of the Health app and the Apple Watch to tools like ResearchKit and CareKit, the company has made health a long-term priority. Tim Cook even once said Apple’s biggest contribution to society might end up being in health, not technology. Now, Apple is ready to test that statement with its boldest move yet.

According to a recent report from Bloomberg, Apple is gearing up to launch an AI health coach that could feel more like a virtual doctor than a software assistant. The new service, part of an internal initiative called Project Mulberry, will roll out alongside a completely redesigned Health app. The timing? As early as iOS 19.4, expected next spring or summer.

“Apple is preparing its biggest health care push to date with a revamped app and AI doctor service. Also: The company is testing an M5 iPad Pro for release as early as this year, its 2025 developers conference gets scheduled for June, and a new global head of retail stores is appointed,” Bloomberg reported.

The Health app will still pull data from Apple devices like the iPhone, Apple Watch, and even earbuds, but it won’t stop at tracking steps or heart rate. The new AI agent will process all of that information and deliver personalized recommendations on how to improve your health. Think of it as a cross between a doctor, a health coach, and a daily motivator.

Tim Cook showcases the expansion of Apple Fitness+. (Credit: Photographer: Brooks Kraft/Apple Inc.)

AI Doctor

Apple has been training this AI using data from its in-house medical team and plans to bring in outside specialists in sleep, nutrition, physical therapy, mental health, and cardiology. These experts will create explainer videos to help users understand their data and how to act on it. For instance, if your heart rate trends look off, you might see a short video about heart disease risks and what to watch for.

“The company is currently training the AI agent with data from physicians that it has on staff. Apple is also looking to bring in outside doctors, including experts in sleep, nutrition, physical therapy, mental health and cardiology, to create videos. That content would serve as explainers to users about certain conditions and how to make lifestyle improvements”

The company is also building a facility near Oakland, California, where its doctors will record these videos. They’re even on the hunt for a well-known medical personality to become the face of this new feature, which insiders have started calling “Health+.”

One of the biggest new additions will be food tracking. Apple has mostly avoided that space, but it’s now looking to go head-to-head with apps like MyFitnessPal and Noom. The AI agent will help with nutrition insights, and users will be able to log what they eat and get guidance based on that data.

Apple’s current Health app. Credit: Apple

Apple is also exploring the use of iPhone cameras to analyze workouts and provide technique tips. That could tie into Fitness+, turning the app into more of a real-time personal trainer than just a content platform.

Leading the push is Dr. Sumbul Desai, who heads Apple’s health division, alongside COO Jeff Williams. The team is focused almost entirely on making this new experience a reality. The goal? Deliver something that makes health feel less like a chore and more like having a coach in your pocket.

Apple has had some setbacks in health before, including a scrapped doctor Q&A app and struggles with more advanced sensors like noninvasive glucose monitoring. But Project Mulberry looks like the company’s most serious attempt to deliver on Cook’s vision. Whether it sticks this time is still up in the air. But one thing’s clear: Apple isn’t giving up on health anytime soon.