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Forward-looking: Apple devices have always had a strong focus on health elements, and they will see a big upgrade next year. Not only is Cupertino working on a revamped version of the Health app, but it’s also creating a virtual doctor and health coach powered by AI agents.
According to Bloomberg’s Apple expert Mark Gurman, the new and upgraded health features are part of what is being called Project Mulberry. Gurman said they could be implemented in iOS 19.4, set to arrive in the spring or summer of 2026.
Part of the revamp will see the Health app renamed Health+, suggesting it may come with a subscription cost. It will collect data from other Apple or third-party devices, such as an Apple Watch, and provide exercise, nutrition, and general health-improving recommendations based on this information.
It’s expected that Apple Intelligence will play a big part in all this. Apple is currently training an AI agent with data from physicians on staff. It also wants to bring in outside doctors, including experts in sleep, nutrition, physical therapy, mental health and cardiology, to create videos, which would be used to explain health conditions and lifestyle changes to users. Gurman writes that Apple is also looking for a “major doctor personality” to act as a host.
One example Gurman gives is if the Health app detects poor heart-rate trends, which will result in it showing a video explaining the risks of heart disease.
Gurman writes that Apple’s AI agents may be able to replicate a real doctor – to the extent that such a thing is possible.
The upgraded app could also have a strong focus on food tracking, something that hasn’t been a major part of other Apple health apps. That would put Apple directly up against the likes of MyFitnessPal and Noom. It could also act as a personal trainer, using a device’s camera to analyze user workouts and offer suggestions for improvements.
Elsewhere, Gurman notes that for those with diabetes, especially type 1, the non-invasive blood glucose monitoring ability of the Apple Watch may still be many years away. There have been reports that Apple has long been working on the tech, but the technical difficulties and importance of accurate readings mean constant glucose monitors (CGMs) like Dexcom remain the only real option for those averse to daily finger pricks.
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