Apple's 'AI Doctor' May Eventually Supplant Human Physicians

 

Apple, the American multinational technology corporation, is planning a comprehensive overhaul of its Health app, significantly investing in artificial intelligence by introducing a service akin to an 'AI doctor,' according to media reports. Apple Developing AI Doctor This initiative is noteworthy as it reflects CEO Tim Cook’s conviction that healthcare will represent the most substantial contribution of the Cupertino-based company to humanity. In a previous statement, Apple’s CEO remarked, “If you zoom out into the future, and you look back, and you ask the question, ‘What was Apple’s greatest contribution to mankind?’ it will be about health,” during a discussion in 2019.

Apple's bold initiative to incorporate a non-invasive glucose monitoring feature into the Apple Watch is projected to be several years from realization, according to industry insider Mark Gurman. In the interim, the company's health division is exploring the use of artificial intelligence to enhance user well-being. Reports indicate that Apple's team is engaged in Project Mulberry, which aims to significantly overhaul the Apple Health app. Some sources suggest that this AI-driven health assistant could potentially substitute for a human physician. Essentially, the plan involves integrating a health coach through an AI agent to mimic certain assessments typically performed by a medical professional.

It has been reported that Apple’s forthcoming Health app will aggregate data from various user devices, including the iPhone, Apple Watch, earbuds, and even products from third-party manufacturers. The app's AI agent will utilize this information to provide tailored recommendations aimed at enhancing the user's health. Exceptional Doctor Persona Currently, Apple is in the process of training its AI agent with data sourced from its in-house medical professionals. Additionally, the company intends to collaborate with external physicians. Furthermore, Apple plans to establish a facility near Oakland, California, where doctors can create video content for the app. They are also seeking an individual with an "exceptional doctor persona" to serve as a host for the redesigned Health app. While Gurman does not elaborate on the specifics of this doctor persona, the company, led by Tim Cook, may be striving to incorporate a human element into the app, akin to the approaches taken by Google and OpenAI, which have employed human artists to develop voices for their chatbots.

Doctor Sumbul Desai leads Apple's health team, which is currently developing a new health application. In addition to him, Jeff Williams, the company's chief operating officer, is significantly engaged in this initiative. Looking ahead, sources within Apple suggest that the project is progressing rapidly. The updated app is anticipated to be launched with iOS 19.4. As previously noted, Apple is set to unveil iOS 19 during its WWDC 2025 event, scheduled for June 9-13. The stable update is expected to coincide with the release of the iPhone 17 in September. Furthermore, the iOS 18.4 update is slated for release on April 1 (this is not an April Fool's joke). If the development of the Health app continues as planned, we may witness the company's AI Doctor in action around the same time next year.