According to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is developing an AI-powered health coaching service called Quartz. The tech giant is also reportedly working on emotion-tracking technology and plans to roll out an iPad version of the iPhone Health app this year.
The AI-powered health coaching service is designed to help users stay motivated to exercise, improve their eating habits and sleep better. The idea behind the service is to use AI and information from a user’s Apple Watch to develop coaching programs specifically tailored to them. As with Apple’s other services, the health coaching service is expected to have a monthly fee.
Several teams at Apple are reportedly working on the project, including the company’s health, Siri, and AI teams. Gurman writes that the service is scheduled for next year, but notes that it could be postponed or suspended altogether.
In addition, the report says Apple’s Health app will gain tools for tracking emotions and managing vision disorders, such as nearsightedness. The launch version of the emotion tracker allows users to record their mood, answer questions about their day, and compare their results over time. In the future, Apple reportedly hopes that the mood tracker can use algorithms to understand a user’s mood based on speech, text, and other data.
As for the new iPad Health app, Gurman writes that Apple will unveil it at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. With the launch of the app, users can view their health data, such as the results of an electrocardiogram, on a larger screen. The new app is expected to be included in iPadOS 17, which is expected to launch later this year.
As noted by Gurman, Apple started its health efforts in 2014 when it launched the dedicated Health app and launched the Apple Watch a year later. Since then, Apple has added several health features to its smartwatch, including fall detection and sleep tracking.
The company’s upcoming mixed-reality headset is said to be an extension of Apple’s current health efforts, as it will reportedly include a feature that allows users to meditate while wearing the device. Apple is expected to unveil the headset at WWDC.
Apple also plans to expand its health features by introducing a basic form of blood pressure monitoring in the Apple Watch in the coming years, as previously reported by Bloomberg. While the feature isn’t expected to display exact diastolic and systolic numbers, it will notify users if it detects they may have hypertension.
In addition, the company is working on non-invasive glucose monitoring technology that would rely on sensors instead of fingersticks when it comes to measuring blood sugar. Apple is reportedly working to pack the technology into a small device, but eventually wants to add the technology to its Apple Watch.