Apple is developing an AI-powered health coaching service codenamed Quartz, according to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The tech giant is also said to be working on sentiment-tracking technology, and plans to roll out an iPad version of the health app to the iPhone this year.
The AI-powered health coaching service is designed to help users stay motivated to exercise, improve their eating habits, and sleep better. The idea behind the service is to use artificial intelligence and information from a user’s Apple Watch to develop training programs tailored to them. As with other Apple services, the Health Coaching service is expected to charge a monthly fee.
Several teams at Apple are said to be working on the project, including the company’s health, Siri, and AI teams. Gorman writes that the service is planned for next year, but notes that it could be delayed or even postponed.
In addition, the report says Apple’s Health app will get tools to track emotions and manage vision conditions, such as nearsightedness. The launch version of the sentiment tracker will allow users to log their moods, answer questions about their day, and compare their results over time. In the future, Apple is said to be hoping that a mood tracker can use algorithms to understand a user’s mood based on speech, text, and other data.
As for the new iPad Health app, Gurman writes that Apple will unveil it at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. Launching the app will allow users to see their health data, such as electrocardiogram results, on a larger screen. The new app is expected to be included in iPadOS 17, which is expected to launch later this year.
As Gurman notes, Apple kicked off its health efforts back in 2014 when it launched the dedicated Health app and then launched the Apple Watch a year later. Since then, Apple has added several health features to its smartwatch, including fall detection and sleep tracking.
The company’s upcoming mixed reality headset will reportedly expand on the company’s existing health efforts, as it will reportedly include a feature that allows users to meditate while wearing the device. Apple is expected to unveil the headset at WWDC.
Apple also plans to expand its health features by bringing a basic form of blood pressure monitor to the Apple Watch in the next few years, as previously reported by Bloomberg. Although the feature is not expected to display accurate diastolic and systolic numbers, it will let users know if they have high blood pressure.
Additionally, the company is working on non-invasive glucose monitoring technology that relies on sensors rather than a finger prick when it comes to taking a blood sugar reading. Apple is said to be working on putting the technology into a small device, but it aims to eventually add the technology to the Apple Watch.