Apple reportedly scales back plans for AI-powered health coach (9to5mac.com)

Apple has reportedly downsized its ambitious Project Mulberry, an initiative aimed at introducing an AI-powered health coach within its Health app. Following a leadership reshuffle in the health organization, which saw significant figures like COO Jeff Williams retire, the plans initially envisioned for an AI agent trained by medical professionals now face scrutiny. Eddy Cue, leading the health and fitness teams, expressed concerns about the competitiveness of Apple's offerings against rivals like Oura and Whoop, suggesting the current vision lacked enough appeal. Despite these setbacks, Apple is still planning to release some aspects of Project Mulberry gradually, with features such as an iPhone camera tool to analyze walking patterns and an AI chatbot for health inquiries. Additionally, advancements for Siri are expected in iOS 27 to support complex health-related questions. These developments illustrate Apple's ongoing efforts to innovate in the health tech space, albeit more cautiously than originally anticipated, as they aim to enhance user engagement in a highly competitive market.