The Apple AI health coach sounds like it's no longer stuck in development hell

Date:
Tue, 14 Jan 2025 17:59:01 +0000

Description:
Apple is reportedly working on an AI health coach but we've heard this one before.

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Apple is reportedly still working on an AI health coach, almost two years after we first heard about it. The report comes from journalist Mark Gurmans Power On newsletter , published Sunday 12 January, in which he mentions (alongside news of the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and SE 3 ) that: The company also is increasing its ambitions in the health realm."

Gurman continued: Apple is planning a revamped health app as well as an AI-based coaching service and added capabilities for AirPods. That includes heart-rate monitoring and sensors to measure other health data.

The news about Apples AirPods getting heart rate monitoring is exciting, but the AI health coach is also an enticing nugget of information. It sounds as though the AI companion is likely to live on the iPhones Health app, rather than on the best Apple watches . Details are scarce at this point, but other wearables like Oura have AI advisory services in beta, allowing users to ask questions about their habits and having the AI respond using data collected
by your wearables.

This is not the first time weve heard of Apples plans: way back in April
2023, I reported on Apple reportedly developing an AI fitness coach,
codenamed Quartz.

The AI coach was said to be able to track emotions via the Apple Watch, although weve not heard a peep about the functionality since then. Its likely now that the Apple Intelligence rollout is in full swing, we could see a
first version of this functionality in September 2025, alongside the iPhone
17 . Analysis: Still a bad idea?

AI felt like it was in its infancy a couple of years ago, and I wrote about the prospect of an AI fitness coach with some trepidation. I was afraid that it would hallucinate, offer unhelpful or downright dangerous workout ideas, and health advice that hadnt been vetted by an expert. In many ways, I still am.

However, after seeing AI infest every corner of the tech world, and trying several such dedicated services like the Oura Advisor chatbot available with the Oura Ring 4 , Im convinced this is simply the way the industrys going to go, and steps will be taken to ensure the software is safe to use.

Im not convinced theyre all that useful, especially to experienced
exercisers, but I can see the potential - for example, recommending workouts from Apples Fitness+ service and tweaking recommended bedtime suggestions based on your sleeping habits, all wrapped up in cosy language like Stravas encouraging Athlete Intelligence feature . You might also like... Apple Watch Ultra 3: all the leaks and rumors so far Apple Watch Ultra 3 could bring a massive health upgrade CES 2025 has shown me the future of AI in fitness, and it's hilariously unimaginative



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/health-fitness/the-apple-ai-health-coach-sounds-like -its-no-longer-stuck-in-development-hell


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