Apple Intelligence-based Health+ is reportedly being scaled back now that Eddy Cue is in charge, with a focus on getting features to users sooner with smaller releases.
Apple never announced Health+ or plans for the initiative, but leaks surrounding the project suggested some sort of AI chat interface would be offered. Users would be able to discuss their health data and would be directed to professional videos explaining certain topics.
According to a report from Bloombergservice chief Eddy Cue is now in charge of Apple Health after Jeff Williams retired, and has restructured plans for its future. Instead of trying to release one big set of features under the umbrella of “Apple Health+” and new subscriptions, Apple is reportedly planning to break up the planned features into smaller, incremental releases.
Apple has reportedly been working on building Health+ for years by filming professional videos at a studio in Oakland, California. Paired with surveys and health assessments, these videos will allow users to receive recommendations from the Apple Health app for the first time.
Probably a necessary pivot
The news is accompanied by the usual language portraying these decisions as Apple’s failure, incompetence and inability to anticipate the market and its rivals. This coloring is of course from the author of the work and possibly his anonymous source, and there is no way of knowing exactly how these movements were intended to occur.
As always, we have to take such coloration with a grain of salt. We do not know the motivation behind the leak and cannot verify the actual conditions at Apple.
Apple reportedly planned to have a version of Health+ in iOS 26, but it was delayed internally. This report does not address how Apple has dealt with the obvious regulatory concerns and the FDA.
The changes coincide not only with the retirement of Jeff Williams, but also with the delay of Apple Intelligence features and the partnership with Google. Apple likely saw the need to pivot and attempt a smaller launch for a number of reasons, including facilitating points for consumer education and FDA approval.
Sumbul Desai presents for Apple during a product launch. Image source: Apple
Sumbul Desai is still in charge of Apple’s health initiatives and recently also took over Apple Fitness. From what we can tell from this report and other moves in the space, Apple’s move is a strategic one that could remove barriers to status updates.
While Apple has clearly been testing a chatbot with these Health+ features, the company hasn’t made any announcements about the product, and there’s no way to know if they actually intended to launch it in this form. From this report, we can read that his work in space will still be used, just after a longer launch.
Some of Apple’s competitors have compelling health options, though they leave a lot to be desired for privacy. ChatGPT’s integration with Apple Health has been a disaster, so at least Apple knows what the floor looks like in this space.
Perhaps OpenAI’s flop in the space was all Apple needed to rethink its Health+ initiative. Whatever the case, we’ll be waiting for Apple to announce the future of health and fitness — hopefully at WWDC 2026 or in iOS 26.4.