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Apple is building an "AI Doctor"
What it means and how to take advantage of the movement
Mohammed Kaleel
April 01, 2025
Apple is building an AI doctor that could transform public health. It’s scheduled to be released in 2026. Unlike past failed health tech initiatives, this one's being developed with real doctors.
AI still can’t do a doctor’s job, but each development does change things. Physicians can either be disrupted by this technology or position themselves to benefit from it.
The big picture
Apple is developing "Project Mulberry," an AI-powered health coach that analyzes user data to provide personalized medical recommendations.
This isn't just another wellness app. It's designed to function like a virtual physician, leveraging Apple Watch data, food intake, and even workout form (using iPhone cameras) to guide patients on improving their health.
The company is aggressively recruiting specialists in sleep medicine, nutrition, cardiology, physical therapy, and mental health to train their AI models.
They're even opening a dedicated facility near Oakland specifically for physicians to create educational content for the platform.
Why it matters
This represents Apple's most serious healthcare initiative to date, and it comes with CEO Tim Cook's full backing. He's repeatedly stated that Apple's "greatest contribution to mankind will be in health."
Previous tech healthcare moonshots like Google Health and IBM Watson Health failed spectacularly because they were built by engineers with little understanding of clinical practice.
Apple appears to have learned from these failures by putting physicians at the center of their development process.
With 2 billion Apple devices worldwide, this AI physician could potentially reach more patients in a single day than most hospitals see in 1000 years. No doctors will complain about healthier patients.
Between the lines
Apple's head of health, Dr. Sumbul Desai, has made this project her team's priority after previous initiatives (like an app connecting users with doctors) flopped.
The Apple Watch's ECG feature has already saved lives by detecting atrial fibrillation in asymptomatic users, proving Apple can successfully implement medical technologies that provide real value.
Project Mulberry combines Apple's massive health data advantage from wearables with direct physician involvement - a combination that makes this attempt far more likely to succeed than previous tech healthcare initiatives.
The AI Doctor Is Coming... Now What?
AI is rapidly transforming medicine - changing how healthcare is delivered, who delivers it, and which skills are most valuable. Apple's virtual physician is just the next step in this evolution.
While none of it is taking jobs from real doctors anytime soon, it does create unique pitfalls and opportunities to be aware of if you want to stay ahead.
In the long run, you have two choices: get swept away by the AI tsunami or position yourself to surf it.
How to get ahead before it's too late:
Build assets, not just a career - When AI makes physicians 2-5x more productive, some doctors will see their value diminish. Others will build businesses, products, or expertise that leverages this technology. Make sure you are in the second group.
Develop tech skills now - Every health tech company, including Apple, desperately needs physician advisors who understand both medicine and technology. Your medical expertise becomes exponentially more valuable when paired with tech knowledge.
Build complementary tools - The most successful physician-entrepreneurs create solutions that enhance AI capabilities rather than compete with them. Start small: collaborate with engineers on problems you face daily.
Create a parallel identity - Don't just be "a cardiologist." Be a medical operator, an advisor, a thought leader, a builder. Use your free time to level up.
Invest early in the winners - Physicians who understand both clinical needs and technological capabilities have a unique edge in identifying profitable health tech investments before the market catches on.
Countless physicians have transformed their careers by embracing technology instead of fearing it. Many now earn more from advisory roles, startup equity, and tech investments than they ever did from clinical practice.
The age of the AI doctor is coming. But the physician who learns to surf this wave won't be complaining about the changes. They'll be shaping the future of healthcare.
The bottom line
Apple's AI physician isn't just coming for routine care. It's the beginning of a larger fundamental shift in how healthcare is delivered.
Physicians can either fight this change or position themselves to benefit from it by developing skills that complement rather than compete with AI.
Want to escape the clinical grind and make a bigger impact? Join thousands of physicians who read The Doc Market newsletter, 5-minute emails every Sunday from physicians who have successfully transitioned into tech entrepreneurship, consulting, and investing.