Apple working on AI ‘doctor’ that tracks everything from the food you eat to deadly health conditions

AN Apple a day keeps the doctor away, or so the saying goes.

And Apple CEO Tim Cook is trying to keep that saying alive by building a new virtual health service.

Cook has long said he wants Apple's legacy to be in healthcare – an ambition that has underpinned work towards making the Apple Watch a “medical lab on your wrist” and the Health app that tracks your activity.

The tech company has even turned its AirPods into hearing aids, and given consumers access to medical-grade hearing tests.

Though it's not stopping there.

Apple is still knee-deep in a 15-year-plus project to create a glucose monitor for the Apple Watch – an idea that was born while Steve Jobs was still alive.

It's designed to inform users if they are prediabetic, which could help users avoid the full-blown condition.

Plans for blood oxygen and hypertension sensors are also in the works.

Although Apple is still years away from rolling these out to the public.

The Silicon Valley giant is now plotting a new health feature under a secretive initiative known as Project Mulberry, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

The project reportedly involves a revamped Health app, and plans to inject AI into the health space via a artificial health coach.

The AI agent could replicate a real doctor, giving users tailor-made recommendations about ways to improve their health based on their Health app data.

A consumer's Apple gadgets—their iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods—could all be used to create a medical profile that an AI ‘doctor' could use to help them.

Apple is reportedly training the AI agent with data from in-house doctors the company has on payroll.

The company is also looking to bring in outside doctors, including sleep, nutrition, physical therapy, mental health and cardiology experts, Gurman reported.

The report added that experts will make explainer videos for users, walking them through certain conditions and lifestyle improvements.

For example, if the Health app receives data about poor heart-rate trends, a video explaining the risks of heart disease could appear.

The project could eventually be known as Health+.

Apple is currently searching for a doctor personality to be the face of the new service.

Gurman reckons food tracking and nutrition features will be a big part of the revamped app.

The technology could later boost Apple's Fitness+ app.

Apple is also working on features that would use the back-camera on an iPhone to let AI agent study users’ workouts and give pointers for improving their technique.