Apple is preparing a major overhaul of its Health app, with plans to introduce an AI-powered health coach, advanced food tracking, and smarter workout guidance. This initiative, internally known as Project Mulberry, could debut as early as iOS 19.4, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
The updated Health app will go far beyond its current role as a central repository for user health data. While it already provides basic insights and trends based on data from devices like the Apple Watch, the next version will leverage artificial intelligence to offer personalized coaching, similar to a real-life doctor.
AI Health Coach: A Virtual Doctor in Your Pocket
At the heart of the update is a new AI agent that will monitor user health metrics and provide customized advice to help improve wellness. This virtual coach is being trained with data from Apple’s in-house physicians and will also draw on expertise from professionals in sleep science, nutrition, mental health, physical therapy, and cardiology.
To support this, Apple is developing educational video content that will be featured within the app. These videos, filmed at a new facility near Oakland, California, aim to educate users on topics like heart disease, healthy habits, and lifestyle improvements. Apple is reportedly looking to recruit a well-known medical personality to host these features under the potential branding of “Health+.”
Smarter Food Tracking
Nutrition is another key focus of the update. Apple plans to expand the Health app’s limited food tracking capabilities to compete with established services like MyFitnessPal. The AI agent will assist users with logging meals and making healthier dietary choices, giving Apple a new foothold in the popular food-tracking space.
AI-Guided Workouts Using iPhone Cameras
Apple is also rethinking how users track and improve their workouts. The company is exploring the use of iPhone and iPad cameras to record workout sessions. The AI coach could then analyze the footage to provide real-time tips on form and technique—offering more personalized feedback than what’s currently available through Apple Watch and Fitness+.
This feature would build on Apple’s existing Fitness+ platform, potentially integrating AI-driven coaching into the broader ecosystem.
A Long-Term Vision for Health
Apple’s ambitions in health and wellness are not new. Project Mulberry is the latest iteration of a longer-term effort that once operated under the name Project Quartz. For years, the company has been working on using machine learning to enhance the user’s health journey.
While hardware innovations like non-invasive glucose monitoring and blood pressure sensors for the Apple Watch are still facing technical hurdles, this software-first approach offers a promising near-term strategy. By embedding AI into its Health ecosystem, Apple aims to deliver smarter, more personalized health tools—without waiting on breakthrough hardware.
As anticipation builds for iOS 19.4, Apple’s next leap in health technology could mark a significant shift in how users interact with their fitness and wellness data.