Apple is developing a health coaching service powered by artificial intelligence, as well as new technology for tracking emotions, according to a report by Bloomberg. These new features are aimed at enhancing the health and wellness of Apple users, rather than promoting the company.
Apple to launch AI-powered coaching service for fitness, diet, and sleep
Apple’s new coaching service called Quartz is said to be powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and data from the Apple Watch. The new service will suggest personalized coaching programs based on individual users’ habits and will help them stay motivated to exercise, eat healthy, and sleep better.
Apple’s devices, especially the Apple Watch, emphasize health features as part of its larger health initiative, which includes Quartz. The company aims to enhance the app’s acceptance among healthcare environments where tablets have already established a presence.
Apple’s new in-house service is likely to carry a monthly fee, unlike the Singapore-based wellness and coaching service LumiHealth, which Apple launched in 2020 in partnership with the Singapore government. The Singapore-based program paid out monetary awards to users who stayed healthy. The Quartz initiative is expected to be launched next year, and it will be its own app, reports Bloomberg.
Apple’s broader health push
Apple’s health app is essential to its health initiative, functioning as a storage for fitness data gathered by the Apple Watch and external health records. It is also a channel for users to exchange information with their physicians. Besides the coaching service, Apple is planning to release an iPad version of the health app. It will enable users to view electrocardiogram findings and other health information in a larger layout.
This year, Apple is adding resources to monitor emotions and manage vision issues such as nearsightedness. With the mood tracker, users can keep track of their emotions, reflect on their daily experiences, and see how their well-being changes over time. In the future, Apple anticipates that the iPhone could use algorithms to detect a user’s mood through their speech, the words they have typed, and other data on their devices.
Additionally, Apple’s upcoming mixed-reality headset, which is set to launch in June, will be part of its health and wellness strategy. It will include a meditation mode, and a streamlined version of Apple’s Fitness+ workout service is in development.
Future developments
Apple plans to expand its focus on health by introducing basic blood pressure monitoring to its watch in the coming years. While not providing exact readings, the feature will alert wearers if they might have hypertension, encouraging them to consult a doctor or use a traditional blood pressure monitor.
Additionally, Apple is developing noninvasive glucose monitoring technology that can measure blood sugar levels using sensors instead of finger pricks. The company aims to shrink this technology down to fit into a device the size of an iPhone and eventually into a future version of the Apple Watch.