Apple Halts iOS 27 AI Health Coach 'Mulberry' Amid Strategy Shift (AAPL)

Apple has indefinitely scaled back its "Mulberry" AI virtual health coach, originally scheduled for release with iOS 27 on September 09, 2026. The internal reorganization aims to fragment and later integrate its core capabilities into the Health app, responding to intensified competition from Oura Health, Whoop, Samsung, Strava, and OpenAI's ChatGPT Health. With leadership transition from Jeff Williams to Eddy Cue, Apple is accelerating toward active health management. A new AI chatbot leveraging its World Knowledge Answers is being prioritized, and a gait-risk analysis camera feature is continuing development. Apple Fitness+ is also under review for potential reconfiguration. The company issued no comment on the latest direction.