MacRumors

Apple has stopped signing several iOS updates released earlier this week, preventing users from installing them even if they still appear in Software Update. The affected versions include iOS 12, iOS 15, iOS 16, and iOS 18.

On Monday, Apple released iOS 18.7.4, iOS 16.7.13, iOS 15.8.6, and iOS 12.5.8 for older iPhone models, along with iPadOS 15.8.6, iPadOS 16.7.3, and iPadOS 18.7.4 for iPad models.

The updates were intended to keep core system services functioning on devices that no longer receive major iOS releases, as well as fix an issue preventing some devices from being able to make emergency calls. Affected iPhone models include the following:

• iPhone SE (1st generation)
• iPhone SE (2nd generation)
• iPhone 5s
• iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
• iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus
• iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
• iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus
• iPhone X
• iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max

The following iPad models are also affected:

• iPad mini 2
• iPad mini 3
• iPad Air
• iPad Air 2
• iPad mini 4
• iPad Pro (9.7-inch)
• iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (1st generation)
• iPad (5th generation)
• iPad (7th generation)
• iPad (8th generation)

None of the updates address security vulnerabilities or introduce new features. According to Apple's release notes for the iOS 12 and iOS 15 updates, the main purpose is to replace an expiring security certificate. Without that replacement, services such as iMessage, FaceTime, and Apple Account sign-in would stop working after January 2027, when the original certificate expires.

Apple has not explained why it stopped signing the updates. In the past, however, the company has prevented installations of newly released iOS versions after discovering bugs or other issues, and then typically re-enabled updates once revised builds become available. iOS 26.2.1 remains available to download, suggesting it has not been affected by the issue. We'll update this article when we learn more.

Update: In a support document, spotted by 9to5Mac, Australia telecommunications company Telstra says that it is "currently investigating an issue preventing some older Apple devices from connecting to our network, including calls to 000. We're working on this as a priority with Apple and will share updates as we have them. We recommend customers using these devices delay updating the software on their device until we confirm the issue is resolved."

Apple's rumored new variable aperture camera system for this year's iPhone 18 Pro models has reached the sampling stage, according to a new claim from a Chinese leaker.

Posting on Weibo today, the account known as "Smart Pikachu" said the feature had entered late-stage engineering samples, while a teleconverter is also "under evaluation" for the device. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to launch in September 2026.

A variable aperture on the iPhone 18 Pro could improve exposure control, particularly for video. By reducing light optically, it could help maintain natural motion blur and smoother exposure in bright conditions.

Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in December 2024 that the main rear camera on both iPhone 18 Pro models will offer variable aperture, which would be a first for the iPhone. A more recent report from October 2025 said Apple was moving ahead with plans to bring the technology to next-generation iPhones and was discussing components with suppliers.

Today's teleconverter claim, meanwhile, is a new and unusual one. In typical DSLR cameras, teleconverters are optical elements that can be added to lenses to increase effective focal length and improve zoom reach, though at the cost of light intake. It's unclear how this would apply to a smartphone, but if Apple were to introduce a teleconverter-style optical system, it would likely end up reducing the amount of light reaching the sensor.

Apple's overall iPhone 18 Pro design will already be locked in at this stage in the development cycle. What Apple tends to continue doing at this point is evaluate specific features like camera modules. Apple may well be running parallel tests without committing any one feature to mass production, so there's still leeway for things to change.

In this case, Apple is likely using the late-stage engineering samples to check the optical performance and reliability, as well as to gauge how easy the camera system is to mass produce, so it could always still drop the feature if it fails to meet Apple's quality standards. Variable aperture was in fact rumored for at least one iPhone 17 model, but it failed to materialize.

Smart Pikachu is known for providing accurate details about Android products in advance of launch, but in terms of Apple rumors, they are a relative newcomer on the Chinese supply chain rumor scene, so these claims warrant caution. The leaker recently claimed that the upcoming iPhone 17e will feature a Dynamic Island and a downclocked A19 chip.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has responded to events in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after two people were shot and killed by U.S. federal immigration agents this month.

In an internal memo to Apple employees, obtained by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Cook said he is "heartbroken by the events in Minneapolis."

"This is a time for deescalation," added Cook. "I believe America is strongest when we live up to our highest ideals, when we treat everyone with dignity and respect no matter who they are or where they're from, and when we embrace our shared humanity. This is something Apple has always advocated for."

Cook said he had a "good conversation" with U.S. President Donald Trump this week, in which he shared his views, but he did not elaborate.

Here is Cook's full memo to Apple employees, per Bloomberg:

Team,

I’m heartbroken by the events in Minneapolis, and my prayers and deepest sympathies are with the families, with the communities, and with everyone that’s been affected.

This is a time for deescalation. I believe America is strongest when we live up to our highest ideals, when we treat everyone with dignity and respect no matter who they are or where they’re from, and when we embrace our shared humanity. This is something Apple has always advocated for. I had a good conversation with the president this week where I shared my views, and I appreciate his openness to engaging on issues that matter to us all.

I know this is very emotional and challenging for so many. I am proud of how deeply our teams care about the world beyond our walls. That empathy is one of Apple’s greatest strengths and it is something I believe we all cherish.

Thank you for all that you do.

Tim

Cook was not specific, but he appears to be responding to the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Pretti was fatally shot by U.S. federal immigration agents following an encounter in Minneapolis on Saturday. The incident has stoked public outcry in the country.

37-year-old poet Renée Good was also shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis on January 7.

Cook was criticized by some for attending a private screening of the upcoming documentary film "Melania" at the White House on Saturday, just hours after Pretti was killed. Critics said that it was poor timing for Cook to attend the VIP gathering, given the events that had transpired in Minneapolis earlier in the day.

Cook has maintained a working relationship with President Trump, and last year he gave him a gift containing a 24-karat pure gold bar.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Apple today said that hypertension notifications are now available for Apple Watch and iPhone users in Australia, Malaysia, Colombia, Indonesia, South Korea, Brazil, and Turkey.

Introduced last September, the hypertension detection feature uses the health sensors on the Apple Watch and custom-designed algorithms to determine if a user seems to be regularly experiencing high blood pressure. If hypertension is detected over a 30-day period, the Apple Watch is able to send an alert suggesting that the user opt in to more frequent blood pressure monitoring with the guidance of a doctor.

According to Apple, hypertension is the leading modifiable risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease, impacting 1.4 billion adults globally. Hypertension does not have visible symptoms in most cases, so it can go undiagnosed.

Apple Watch owners in the countries where Apple has added support can set up hypertension alerts in the Health app.

Hypertension alerts are available with the Apple Watch Series 9 and later and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later.

DRAM shortages are set to impact smartphone manufacturers like Apple in 2026, but the company is going to try to keep iPhone 18 prices steady despite having to pay more for components, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Kuo says that Apple negotiates memory prices with suppliers on a quarterly basis, so price increases are expected in the second quarter of 2026. The upcoming price hike will be similar to the first quarter increase that has already seen Apple paying more for memory. Estimates suggest that prices are up 10 to 25 percent compared to last year.

The higher memory cost will impact the iPhone's gross margins, but Apple is in a position to establish deals to get a steady supply, and it is able to absorb some of the increased cost. From Kuo:

For most non-AI brands, even if you're willing to pay up, there's no guarantee you'll get the supply. The fact that Apple can lock in a deal like this shows just how much leverage they have.

Higher memory costs will hit iPhone gross margins. But Apple's playbook is clear: use the market chaos to their advantage--secure the chips, absorb the costs, and grab more market share. They'll make it back later on the services side.

Apple may need to address memory price increases during the January 30 earnings call covering the first fiscal quarter of 2026 (October to December 2025). Kuo expects that Apple will avoid raising prices "as much as possible," and that at least the starting price of the ‌iPhone 18‌ models will be flat.

Apple has previously absorbed component costs, and was able to keep iPhone 17 pricing relatively steady. The base ‌iPhone 17‌ model did not go up in price and still starts at $799, though Apple did start charging $100 more for the iPhone 17 Pro because of the new 256GB minimum storage.

Components other than memory could also be in short supply in the coming months, leading to further supply chain issues that could force price increases. LPDDR and NAND are currently facing shortages and higher prices because of demand from the AI industry. Chip manufacturers are prioritizing advanced memory for AI servers over the memory used in smartphones, and there has been speculation that the memory price increase will cause smartphone costs to rise across multiple brands.

Apple today seeded the third betas of upcoming iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, and watchOS 26.3 updates to public beta testers, with the updates coming a day after Apple provided the third beta to developers.

Anyone can download and install public betas, and all that's required is to sign up on Apple's beta site. Once you've opted in, the software can be downloaded through the Software Update section in the Settings app on each device. The latest iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, and watchOS 26.3 updates add support for the new second-generation AirTag, including Precision Finding on Apple Watch.

iOS 26.3 also adds a new tool for transitioning from an iPhone to an Android device. Transfers can be initiated during the device setup process, and moving data from one device to another can now be done without having to download a specific app.

The update includes changes to third-party wearables in the European Union, with more information available in our iOS 26.3 beta 2 feature list following yesterday's release to developers.

Apple is expected to release iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 to the public at the end of January.

Apple today provided public beta testers with the third release of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.3 update for testing purposes. The public beta comes a day after Apple provided the third beta to developers.

After signing up for beta testing on Apple's beta site, public beta testers can download the updates using the Software Update section in the System Settings app.

We don't know about any new features in ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3 as of yet, but Apple might introduce new capabilities in later beta releases.

The beta is limited to developers and public beta testers at the current time, but we are expecting Apple to release the update at the end of January.

Google today announced that it is expanding its more affordable Google AI Plus subscription plan to 35 countries and territories, including the United States.

In the U.S., Google AI Plus is priced at $7.99, giving Google Gemini users a more affordable option for accessing upgraded AI services. Prior to now, Google AI Pro was the most affordable AI subscription plan at $19.99 per month.

Google AI Plus includes Gemini 3 Pro and Nano Banana Pro in the Gemini app, as well as AI filmmaking tools in Flow, and access to research and writing assistance in NotebookLM. It also includes 200GB of storage, with benefits able to be shared with up to five other family members.

For a limited time, Google is offering new AI Plus subscribers a 50 percent discount for the first two months of the subscription, dropping the price to $3.99. Customers will pay $3.99 for access for two months, before being charged the full $7.99 per month price.

Google One Premium 2TB customers who pay $9.99 per month will automatically get access to the benefits of Google AI Plus in the coming days.

Google AI Plus includes 200 monthly AI credits for video generation, which is 100 more credits than the free Google AI option. The free tier has limited access to Gemini 3 Pro, but subscribers will be able to use 3 Pro with fewer limitations, while also accessing Deep Research. The plan also offers limited access to Veo 3.1 Fast and Gemini in Chrome.

The more expensive $19.99 per month Google AI Pro plan has even more benefits than the $7.99 plan. It offers a higher number of AI credits, more access to Flow and Whisk, Gemini 3 Pro in Google Search, higher daily limits for Gemini Code assist, Gemini in Google apps like Gmail and Docs, access to Google Home Premium, and 2TB storage.

More information is available on Google's website.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the original iPad 16 years ago today, marking over one and a half decades of the company's "revolutionary" tablet.

Jobs unveiled the first-generation ‌iPad‌ at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco on January 27, 2010. Designed to fill the gap between smartphones and laptops, the original ‌iPad‌ featured a 9.7-inch LED-backlit multitouch display, Apple's first custom designed chip, a 30-pin dock connector, and up to 64GB storage. With a starting price of $499, it offered users a new way to browse the web, read eBooks, watch videos, and interact with Apple's growing app ecosystem. Jobs described it as "a magical and revolutionary device."

iPad is our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price. iPad creates and defines an entirely new category of devices that will connect users with their apps and content in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.

The ‌iPad‌ used a version of iOS tailored for its larger display, bringing a big-screen experience to familiar mobile apps like Safari, Mail, and Photos. It introduced the iBooks app and iBookstore as part of an effort to compete in the e-reading space dominated by Amazon's Kindle. Its design was characterized by thick black bezels, a physical home button, and a convex aluminum back. It weighed 1.5 pounds and offered 10 hours of battery life.

The initial reception to the ‌iPad‌ was mixed. While many praised its lightweight computing and media consumption experience, others questioned its necessity and potential to replace laptops.

Nevertheless, the ‌iPad‌ sold over 300,000 units on its launch day in April 2010 and one million within its first month. It catalyzed the creation of a new product category, sparking competition from rivals such as Samsung, Microsoft, and Amazon. By the end of 2010, Apple had sold over 15 million iPads, generating $9.5 billion in revenue and solidifying the device as a key pillar of the company's product lineup.

The ‌iPad‌ has since become a tentpole device for Apple, expanding into product lines including the iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro and accessories such as the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard. Subsequent models introduced cameras, multitasking, different display size options, USB-C connectivity, and more. See Apple's original press release from 2010 for more information.

Samsung aims to produce around 1 million units of its upcoming "Wide Fold" device, in an attempt to directly rival Apple's rumored foldable iPhone expected later this year.

According to Korea's ETNews, the Wide Fold will see Samsung's largest initial production run for a special model in the past three years. The device is said to feature a 7.6-inch foldable OLED display with a 4:3 aspect ratio when unfolded, and a 5.4-inch cover screen.

Apple is expected to introduce a foldable iPhone this fall with a similar 4:3 inner display ratio. When folded, users will interact with a 5.3-inch outer display that is shorter and wider than a typical iPhone screen, while unfolding it will reveal a larger 7.7-inch iPad-style screen, according to The Information.

Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects Apple to sell somewhere between 8 and 10 million units by the end of the year, assuming it launches in 2026 and isn't pushed back into early next year. Either way, it appears that by matching the device's aspect ratio, Samsung is wasting no time going after Apple in a space that the Korean tech giant has so far dominated.

A source quoted in the report says the Wide Fold "is not considered dramatically harder to build than [the] TriFold," and Samsung may increase output depending on the market response. The upcoming Galaxy Z TriFold is expected to have only a limited run of around 200,000 units, compared to the Wide Fold's projected 1 million units. Samsung is expected to launch the TriFold device on January 30, starting at $2,899.

ETNews reports that the Wide Fold will debut alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 at Samsung's Q3 Unpacked event in July. If so, that's a change from previous years, when Samsung staggered its special models to avoid cannibalizing sales from its main lineup.

• iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Samsung's overall foldable shipments reportedly exceeded 6 million last year, and the company expects that figure to climb with the Wide Fold joining its portfolio. Apple is expected to unveil its first foldable alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in September.

The second-generation AirTag is available to order now in the U.S. and dozens of other countries, but it is launching later in some other countries.

According to Apple's website, the new AirTag will be launching at a later date in these countries:

• Brazil
• Indonesia
• Malaysia
• The Philippines
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Vietnam

In South Korea, Apple will begin accepting orders for the new AirTag on January 28 (local time), so orders should begin imminently in that country. In many of the other countries listed above, however, Apple simply says the new AirTag is coming soon.

The new AirTag features longer range for both Bluetooth and Precision Finding item tracking, a louder speaker, and some other minor changes.

On the heels of the launch of its newest Stratos Band for Apple Watch with an icy blue glow color, Nomad this week has an overstock sale going on with major discounts across a few different product categories. This includes iPhone 17 cases, MagSafe-compatible charging stations, iPad folios, and much more.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Nomad. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

All discounts in this sale have been automatically applied and do not require any coupon codes, and Nomad offers free shipping on orders that exceed $50 in value. You'll find a collection of iPhone 17 cases in this sale, including Nomad's Modern Case for $39 ($10 off), Modern Leather Case for $44 ($11 off), and Rugged Leather Case for $60 ($15 off).

iPhone 17 Cases

• Modern Case - $39, down from $49
• Modern Leather Case - $44, down from $55
• Rugged Leather Case - $60, down from $75
• Modern Leather Folio - $60, down from $75

Charging

• Stand One - $83, down from $119
• Base One Max - $111, down from $159

iPad Cases

• Leather Folio for iPad Air - $63, down from $125

Apple Watch Bands

• Sport Slim Band - $39, down from $55
• Rugged Case - $60, down from $119

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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iOS 26 adoption now hovers at around 50%, according to StatCounter, but some users are still cautious about updating.

New data published by SellCell provides a look at how users have responded to the push to update to ‌iOS 26‌. The findings are based on a January 2026 survey of 2,000 U.S.-based adult iPhone users and focus on adoption status, update behavior, and perceived risks associated with installing ‌iOS 26‌.

78% of SellCell's respondents say they have updated their ‌iPhone‌ to ‌iOS 26‌, while 22% report that they are still running an earlier version of iOS. There have been other reports of low adoption for ‌iOS 26‌, so 78% would be unusually high and may indicate a disproportionate number of tech enthusiasts among respondents. Realistically, the actual number likely lies somewhere in between at around 50%, as StatCounter shows. SellCell stresses that the data reflects self-reported behavior rather than device-verified installation rates.

Nevertheless, the survey highlights key reasons as to why some users have still not upgraded. 24.2% of respondents said they were concerned that ‌iOS 26‌ could negatively affect battery life, while 23.8% worried about overall performance. 17.5% of respondents said they disliked the design changes debuted with Liquid Glass, or found it harder to read, while an additional 8.6% said they were frustrated that new visual elements could not be fully turned off. 15% of respondents said they worried it would be difficult or impossible to revert to an earlier version of iOS once ‌iOS 26‌ was installed, while 11.4% cited reports of bugs or features breaking as a reason for hesitation.

SellCell's data also suggests that adoption does not necessarily reflect confidence. When asked about their general response to iOS update prompts, only 38.8% of respondents said they typically update immediately when prompted. The remaining 61.2% reported some form of delay or deferral, including waiting to see whether other users report problems, assuming updates occur automatically, dismissing reminders, or postponing updates for weeks or months. A smaller share said they only update once an app stops working on their current version of iOS.

In addition, the survey found that hesitation around ‌iOS 26‌ is widespread even among users who have already installed the update. Across the full sample of 2,000 respondents, 72% selected at least one concern that made them hesitant about upgrading, while only 28% said that nothing they had seen put them off installing ‌iOS 26‌. It is also notable that, of the 443 respondents who said they were still on an older version, 28% said they were unaware that ‌iOS 26‌ was available, 23.7% said they assumed updates would install automatically, and 23.3% said they simply had not gotten around to updating.

A new Apple support document and our own testing has confirmed that Precision Finding on the Apple Watch Series 9 and later and Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later works with the AirTag 2, but the original AirTag is not supported.

Apple has not indicated why this feature does not work with the original AirTag. However, the new AirTag is equipped with Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, while the original has Apple's first-generation Ultra Wideband chip.

Precision Finding can lead you to the exact location of an item with an AirTag attached to it, by showing you a directional arrow and your distance away from the item on a compatible iPhone, and now on a compatible Apple Watch too.

Precision Finding already existed on the above Apple Watch models for finding an iPhone 15 or newer, but there was no Precision Finding on the Apple Watch for finding an AirTag until now. As we confirmed, however, Precision Finding on the Apple Watch still does not work with the first-generation AirTag released in 2021.

To use Precision Finding to find a second-generation AirTag with a compatible Apple Watch, the watch must be running watchOS 26.2.1 or later.

How to set up the feature, according to Apple:

1. On your Apple Watch, go to Control Center.
2. Scroll to the bottom and tap Edit.
3. Tap the Add button.
4. Scroll down to Find Items.
5. Tap Find Items, then tap Find AirTag.
6. Tap Choose, then choose an item.
7. Tap the Done button, then tap Done.

How to use the feature, according to Apple:

1. On your Apple Watch, go to Control Center.
2. Scroll down and tap the Find AirTag button.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions and move around your space until your Apple Watch connects to your AirTag.
4. Follow the distance and direction information on your Apple Watch. When you are close to your AirTag, the watch screen turns green.

If you have an original AirTag, you can still find it with Precision Finding on an iPhone 11 or newer.

With the AirTag 2, Precision Finding works at distances up to 1.5× farther away from an item compared to the original AirTag, but this longer range requires an iPhone 15 or newer, Apple Watch Series 9 or newer, or Apple Watch Ultra 2 or newer.

To learn more about the new AirTag, read our coverage of Apple's announcement.

Amazon today has a match of the record low price on the AirPods Pro 3, available for $199.00, down from $249.00. This is only the second time in 2026 that we've tracked the AirPods Pro 3 at this low price on Amazon, which matches the best deal we saw over the holiday season.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

This model of the AirPods Pro launched in September 2025 and has 2x better Active Noise Cancellation than the previous generation, better audio quality, a revised fit that's meant to improve comfort and stability, Live Translation for in-person conversations, and heart rate sensing for workouts.

Additionally, Amazon has the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancelation for $119.00, down from $179.00. This is a solid second-best price on the AirPods 4 with ANC, and both models have an estimated February 1 delivery date for free delivery options.

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

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Anthropic has announced new interactive tools in Claude that let users open and interact with other services and apps directly within the AI chat interface via the web and Mac app.

The update offers real-time collaboration with third-party apps like Asana, Slack, Figma, Canva, and more without requiring users to switch between tabs or apps.

The feature is powered by MCP Apps, a new extension to the Model Context Protocol that lets any MCP server deliver an interactive interface within supporting AI products. Anthropic open-sourced MCP last year as a universal standard for connecting tools to AI applications.

Per Anthropic's announcement, here's what you can now do directly in Claude:

Amplitude – Build analytics charts, then explore trends and adjust parameters interactively to uncover hidden insights.

Asana – Turn chats into projects, tasks, and timelines your team can see and execute in Asana.

Box – Search for files, preview documents inline, then extract insights and ask questions about your content.

Canva – Create presentation outlines, then customize branding and design in real-time to produce client-ready decks.

Clay – Research companies, find contacts with email and phone info, pull data like company size and funding, then draft personalized outreach directly in your conversation.

Figma – Prompt to turn text and images into flow charts, Gantt charts, or other visual diagrams in FigJam.

Hex – Ask data questions and get answers complete with interactive charts, tables, and citations.

monday.com – Manage your work, run projects, update boards, smartly assign tasks, and visualize progress with insights.

Slack (from Salesforce) – Search and retrieve Slack conversations for context, generate message drafts, format them your way, and review before you post.

Interactive tools are available on web and desktop for Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans, with support said to be coming to Claude Cowork down the line.

The integrations are similar to ChatGPT's Apps system, introduced last October, which allows users to interact with third-party tools inside the chat interface.

A reporter for The Washington Post has put ChatGPT's new optional Apple Health integration feature to the test by feeding it ten years of their Apple Watch data. The results were not encouraging, to say the least.

Earlier this month, OpenAI announced the launch of ChatGPT Health, a dedicated section of ChatGPT where users can ask health-related questions completely separated from their main ChatGPT experience. For more personalized responses, users can connect various health data services such as Apple Health, Function, MyFitnessPal, Weight Watchers, AllTrails, Instacart, and Peloton.

ChatGPT Health can also integrate with your medical records, allowing it to analyze your lab results and other aspects of your medical history to inform its answers to your health-related questions.

With this in mind, reporter Geoffrey Fowler gave ChatGPT Health access to 29 million steps and 6 million heartbeat measurements from his Apple Health app, and asked the bot to grade his cardiac health. It gave him an F.

Feeling understandably alarmed, Fowler asked his actual doctor, who in no uncertain terms dismissed the AI's assessment entirely. His physician said Fowler was at such low risk for heart problems that his insurance likely wouldn't even cover additional testing to disprove the chatbot's findings.

Cardiologist Eric Topol of the Scripps Research Institute was likewise unimpressed with the large language model's assessment. He called ChatGPT's analysis "baseless" and said people should ignore its medical advice, as it's clearly not ready for prime time.

Perhaps the most troubling finding, though, was ChatGPT's inconsistency. When Fowler asked the same question several times, his score swung wildly between an F and a B. ChatGPT also kept forgetting basic information about him, including his gender and age, despite it having full access to his records.

Anthropic's Claude chatbot fared slightly better – though not by much. The LLM graded Fowler's cardiac health a C, but it also failed to properly account for limitations in the Apple Watch data.

Both companies say their health tools aren't meant to replace doctors or provide diagnoses. Topol rightly argued that if these bots can't accurately assess health data, then they shouldn't be offering grades at all.

Yet nothing appears to be stopping them. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration earlier this month said the agency's job is to "get out of the way as a regulator" to promote innovation. An agency commissioner drew a red line at AI making "medical or clinical claims" without FDA review, but ChatGPT and Claude argue they are just providing information.

"People that do this are going to get really spooked about their health," Topol said. "It could also go the other way and give people who are unhealthy a false sense that everything they're doing is great."

ChatGPT's Apple Health integration is currently limited to a group of beta users. Responding to the report, OpenAI said it was working to improve the consistency of the chatbot's responses. "Launching ChatGPT Health with waitlisted access allows us to learn and improve the experience before making it widely available,” OpenAI VP Ashley Alexander told the publication in a statement.