Apple to offer AI-driven health coach, report says

Apple is seeking to expand its push into health and wellness with an AI-driven coaching service, plus new technology for tracking emotions, according to a report.

Code-named Quartz, the new coaching service is intended to motivate users to stay healthy, improve their eating patterns and sleep better, Bloomberg reported.

Apple will use different AI technologies to process user data collected from Apple smartwatches to offer customised coaching plans based on different lifestyles.

Apple aims to launch the service next year, but plans could be “cancelled or postponed”, said the report.

The project is being driven by different Apple groups, including its services division, health, Siri and AI teams, Bloomberg reported.

Apple launched a dedicated app in September 2014 to help users organise and gain access to their health information in a central and secure place.

Over the past few years, Apple has tried to make health-tracking features an integral part of its devices, especially smartwatches.

Launched in September, the Apple Watch Series 8 retains the mainstay health metric measurements, including a third-generation optical heart sensor, a blood oxygen sensor and an electric heart sensor.

It also comes with integrated fertility features allowing users to track ovulation.

The device has a new sensor that can track a woman’s body temperature at night – one of the most reliable ways to predict ovulation – by taking and storing a digital reading every five seconds.

In 2020, the company also collaborated with the government of Singapore on the LumiHealth health-promoting initiative. This sets out goals that can be met through activities such as walking, swimming and yoga.

Apple is expected to roll out an iPad version of its iPhone health app at its developers’ conference in June.