From AI health features to Google cast support: Major updates coming to the Apple ecosystem soon

In a recent report on upcoming updates expected to arrive across the Apple ecosystem, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman revealed that several features could still be on track for iOS 27, although they may not launch until later in the update cycle. In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman stated that Apple is planning to significantly improve Apple Watch heart-rate tracking with watchOS 27, which would tie in closely with the company’s upcoming AI-powered health coaching features.

Gurman further added that Apple’s heart-rate tracking improvements will focus less on introducing entirely new capabilities and more on stability, performance, and smaller refinements. According to the report, Apple is prioritizing reliability and user experience over major feature additions for this release cycle.

Project Mulberry May Face Further Delays

Project Mulberry is reportedly an AI-powered health agent designed to provide personalized health insights using data from Apple Health. Users would also be able to share their camera feed with the assistant, allowing it to provide real-time guidance during workouts and fitness sessions.

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The feature was initially expected to launch alongside the revamped Health app in iOS 26.4. However, it was later pushed to iOS 27, and the latest report now suggests it could be delayed even further into the iOS 27 update cycle. It is possible that the redesigned Health app itself may still debut with iOS 27, while Apple’s AI health coach could arrive later in the release schedule.

The report also claims that Apple paused development temporarily because the company felt the product was not yet competitive enough. The Cupertino-based tech giant reportedly wants additional time to refine the experience before launch.

Genmoji and Image Playground Set for Major Improvements

Apple’s image-generation models used in Genmoji and Image Playground are also expected to receive major upgrades in visual quality. According to Gurman, Apple plans to introduce smarter Genmoji generation using information from a user’s photo library and other contextual details.

The report further suggests that the company’s AI image-generation models will receive a substantial boost in overall image quality. Since Genmoji and Image Playground currently rely on on-device AI models, there are still concerns about output quality compared to cloud-based alternatives. It remains unclear whether Apple’s upcoming improvements will continue to run entirely on-device or rely partly on cloud processing.

Additionally, Apple is reportedly planning broader support for third-party AI image-generation models. Currently, the ecosystem mainly supports OpenAI’s ChatGPT integration.

AirPlay Could Be Replaced by Third-Party Streaming Protocols in the EU

In response to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple is reportedly working on the ability to replace AirPlay with third-party streaming protocols at a system-wide level. This feature may only be introduced in the European Union, similar to Apple’s support for third-party app marketplaces in the region.

Google Cast is expected to be one of the most widely adopted third-party protocols under this change. If implemented, it could allow smart speakers and streaming device manufacturers to offer native iOS integration without depending on AirPlay or Bluetooth.

While the report does not explicitly confirm regional exclusivity, users outside the European Union may not want to expect native Google Cast integration anytime soon.