3 Minutes
Imagine your iPhone telling you your squat is sloppy. Short, blunt. Then offering the fix. That was the promise behind Apple's whispered Health+ project — an AI-driven wellness concierge that could analyze sensor data and even use the iPhone camera for exercise form correction. Now, that bet is being pared back.
Sources inside Apple say the Services group, now overseen by Eddy Cue, pulled the plug on a standalone Health+ rollout. Why? The marketplace moved faster than anticipated. Apps like Oura and a host of fitness startups have already woven advanced health features into iOS, leaving Apple with a tougher climb to meaningful differentiation.
So what's the pivot? Expect evolution, not a headline product. Rather than launching a separate subscription service, Apple will fold select AI-driven features into the existing Health app. Simple recommendation engines that nudge activity, sleep, or recovery choices could arrive later this year. A conversational health assistant — a chatbot that answers wellness questions using your personal data — is reportedly on the roadmap too.
That strategy makes strategic sense. Apple has a massive installed base and tight integration between hardware and software. Adding capabilities to Health lets the company distribute value broadly, without forcing users into a new paid tier. It also reduces the risk of going head-to-head with niche players who have already cultivated loyal wellness audiences.
Of course, questions remain. How deep will the AI analysis go? Will camera-based form checks respect privacy and run locally, or will they rely on cloud processing? And will incremental feature drops satisfy users who expected a full-fledged Health+ experience?
For now, Apple’s plan is pragmatic: ship the most polished AI features inside the Health app and iterate from there.
That means users may get smarter suggestions, proactive alerts, and a conversational helper without ever subscribing to a new service. It also means Apple is choosing gradual refinement over bold reinvention — a slower rhythm, but one that leverages the company's existing reach and trust. Watch the Health app this year; the changes won't be flashy, but they could quietly reshape how iPhones participate in personal wellness.
Source: gsmarena
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