Be wary of the rumored connection between ChatGPT and Apple Health – AppleInsider
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Apple Health
There is an Apple Health icon buried in the ChatGPT iOS app. This could either lead to better and secure integration if Apple is in charge, or a privacy nightmare if ChatGPT is.
ChatGPT is capable of connecting to many different apps, including Xcode, Notion, and even Slack. However, a future integration could be more beneficial to your health and fitness.
An examination of OpenAI’s updated ChatGPT app for iOS spotted by MacRumors reveals that there’s a version of the Apple Health icon buried inside. The name of the file apparently indicates that users will be able to connect ChatGPT to the Apple Health app.
While the icon exists, there is no current way to hook up ChatGPT to Apple Health. There hasn’t been any indication from OpenAI about when such a connection would be actually usable, nor what could be done with the data.
Currently, users can connect many third-party fitness, nutrition, and health apps to Apple Health, both to input data and to analyze already-collected figures. While ChatGPT wouldn’t be able to contribute a user’s heart rate, weight, or other data points about the user’s health, it would be able to read that same data, if permitted.
The most obvious use of that data is for ChatGPT to analyze the user’s health and fitness. That analysis could be used in a variety of ways, such as detecting possible symptoms of an illness based on trends, or determining areas where the user could concentrate on improving themselves.
There is also the potential for ChatGPT to use the data to provide workout plans or to act like a virtual coach to the user. For example, analyzing gait and step counts over time, as well as the user’s weight, it could advise the user to walk around more than they currently do.
As another example, a user could express a wish to lose weight or gain strength. After looking at the health data, ChatGPT could create a specific workout plan tailored for specific improvements or to target weak areas over time.
Depending on the final implementation, and who’s doing the implementation, this integration could end up with OpenAI having access to a copy of your very personal data.
There is the existing ChatGPT integration with Siri, which is relatively safe for users. When a Siri query is passed over to ChatGPT, Apple strips out identifying details before sending the query, giving ChatGPT nothing usable that can be associated with you. This is the scenario if Apple is in charge of the integration.
By contrast, the connection to Apple Health via HealthKit could, with the user’s permission, hand over a lot of data to ChatGPT. There are various provisions in place that OpenAI would have to abide by, including privacy rules and a ban on third-party disclosure.
Ultimately, an Apple Health connection could hand a lot of data over to ChatGPT. You would then have to trust that OpenAI doesn’t misuse it at all.
Depending on what the icon’s appearance actually signifies, this could mean more or less privacy for your health data.
While ChatGPT may be seen as heading in the direction of improving the health of its users, Apple has also been speculated to be working on its own effort.
Reported back in March, Project Mulberry is said to rework the Health app by adding an AI agent coach. One that would monitor data in the Health app and advise on how the user can improve their bodies.
Apple was said to be working with in-house physicians to train the AI, so it can give accurate advice on a number of areas. There was also Project Quartz, an apparent effort to create an AI-powered coach to help users work out.
However, the result so far is Workout Buddy in iOS 26 and watchOS 26, which gives you updates and motivation during a workout. While Workout Buddy does use the fitness history to point things out, it’s not doing that much analysis with access to all the user’s data.
Apple could well introduce a better version that provides more workout-related features in the future, but it’s not near that level with its first effort.
Based in South Wales, Malcolm Owen has written about tech since 2012, previously for Electronista and MacNN. His interests include photography, magic tricks, game development, and annoying his cats.
Does it mean that OpenAI has the access to Apple´s API if OpenAI can have the access to a copy of personal data?
I don´t know what kind of benefits Apple would get by letting OpenAI have the access to a copy of personal data..
Blackwhitepanda said:Does it mean that OpenAI has the access to Apple´s API if OpenAI can have the access to a copy of personal data?I don´t know what kind of benefits Apple would get by letting OpenAI have the access to a copy of personal data..
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