- Apple’s AI-powered health coach has apparently been delayed
- It’s now not expected until “later in the iOS 27 update cycle”
- The news arrives in a new report from a reputable source
Apple’s WWDC event is just around the corner, which means we can expect a ton of software announcements from the tech giant on June 8. One thing that fans of the best Apple Watches might have been excited about is Apple’s long-rumored AI health coach (AI) — but a new report has just put a damper on those expectations.
According to Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, Apple’s AI health coach – apparently dubbed ‘Project Mulberry’ inside Apple – may not be unveiled at WWDC after all. It will come as a blow to anyone looking forward to this feature, but it’s not all doom and gloom.
Previous rumors have suggested that Apple is building an AI assistant that can study your fitness metrics and identify key areas for improvement, then give you tips and plans to help you get there. Another feature might involve using your device’s cameras to monitor your workout and give you tips to increase your posture and performance.
However, Gurman says this fitness trainer will not be shown off at WWDC. Instead, the reporter now doesn’t expect any of Project Mulberry’s features to arrive until “later in the iOS 27 update cycle,” meaning an important delay for the health tools in question.
The rivals push forward
This news comes after Gurman previously reported that Project Mulberry had been “scaled back,” with the company planning to include its features in its existing tools rather than offering a standalone app. But even that delay and restructuring wasn’t enough to get the feature ready for WWDC, at least according to Gurman.
That’s in stark contrast to the Fitbit Air and its Google Health companion app, which has an AI-based Google Health Coach that absorbs your health metrics, sleep data, nutritional intake, medical records and more to build a personalized plan to help you feel healthier, sleep better and more. While Google’s efforts have rolled out worldwide, Apple’s is nowhere to be seen.
Still, Gurman has some more positive news for fitness fans living in Apple’s ecosystem. First, he believes watchOS 27 will bring improved heart rate tracking, which could make the Apple Watch an even better fitness tracker for those who need those features.
Beyond that, Apple is expected to overhaul its Health app at WWDC, and while Gurman said the AI fitness trainer has been pushed back, he didn’t mention similar delays in this Health revamp. That might mean the app will be a little more useful this summer, even if Project Mulberry is nowhere to be found.
Either way, we hope Apple’s improved fitness offerings aren’t held up for too long. With rival companies pushing ahead with their own personal metrics and analytics, Apple has been working to level the playing field in this area.
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