The Apple Intelligence-powered Health+ service is reportedly being scaled back now that Eddy Cue is in charge, and will focus on getting features to users sooner with smaller releases.
Apple has never announced Health+ or plans for the initiative, but leaks surrounding the project suggested some kind of AI chat interface was going to be offered. Users would be able to discuss their health data and be directed to professional videos explaining certain topics.
According to a report from Bloomberg, Services chief Eddy Cue is now in charge of Apple Health after Jeff Williams retired, and he's restructured the plans around its future. Instead of trying to release one big feature set under the umbrella of "Apple Health+" and a new subscription, Apple is allegedly planning on breaking up the planned features into smaller, incremental releases.
Apple has allegedly been working for years to build up the Health+ service by recording professional videos in an Oakland, California studio. These videos, paired with surveys and health assessments, would allow users to get recommendations from the Apple Health app for the first time.
A likely necessary pivot
This report is accompanied by the usual language painting these decisions as failures, incompetence, and Apple's inability to anticipate the market and its rivals. Of course, this coloring is from the author of the piece and possibly its anonymous source, and there is no way of knowing exactly how these moves should have gone.
As always, we have to take such coloring with a grain of salt. We don't know the motivations of the leaker and can't verify the actual conditions within Apple.
Apple allegedly planned to have a version of Health+ in iOS 26, but it was delayed internally. What this report doesn't address is how Apple has dealt with obvious regulatory concerns and the FDA.
The changes not only align with Jeff Williams' retirement, but with Apple's delay of Apple Intelligence features and a partnership with Google. Apple likely saw that it needed to pivot and attempt a smaller launch for multiple reasons, including easing consumer education points and FDA approval.
Sumbul Desai presenting for Apple during a product reveal. Image source: Apple
Sumbul Desai is still in charge of Apple's health initiatives and has recently taken on Apple Fitness as well. From what we can tell from this report and other moves in the space, Apple's move is a strategic one that could eliminate roadblocks for the health updates.
While Apple clearly tested a chatbot with these Health+ functions, the company made no announcement about the product, and there is no way to know if they truly intended to launch it in that form. What we can glean from this report is that its work in the space will still be put to use, just over a longer launch.
Some of Apple's competitors have compelling health options, even if they leave a lot to be desired for data privacy. ChatGPT's Apple Health integration was a disaster, so at least Apple knows what the floor looks like in this space.
Perhaps OpenAI's flub 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.
