Apple has recently released the iOS 17.2 update for iPhones and watchOS 10.2 for Apple Watches, introducing a notable feature: the ability to access and record Health app data using Siri. This change represents a significant step in providing more visibility to health data, allowing us to be more aware of it.
A system that allows quicker access to our health data
In an interview with CNET, Deidre Caldbeck, Senior Director of Product Marketing for Apple Watch and Health, explained that this new feature aligns with Apple’s intention to make health data as visible as possible. “A major focus for us is making health data accessible,” Caldbeck said. “And we believe this feature brings us closer to that goal.”
The feature, although compatible with all iPhones running iOS 17, is only available on the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. This is due to the processing power of these two devices, enabling them to handle health data requests locally on the device with low latency, thus respecting our privacy.
Katie Skinner, Senior Manager of User Privacy Engineering at Apple, highlighted the privacy-centric approach for this feature. It was designed following four fundamental principles that guide all of Apple’s health products: data minimization, on-device processing, transparency and control, and security. “What has really changed is how we apply these principles, the technologies we can employ, and the threat landscape,” Skinner affirmed.
Upon its launch, health logging via Siri can access over 20 types of data from the Health app. Caldbeck assures that there are more updates on the way: “We’re always looking for ways to improve and empower our features. So, we’ll definitely continue exploring adding additional data types and providing more accessibility to our health features through Siri.”
Therefore, to access this functionality, you’ll need an iPhone compatible with iOS 17 or an Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2. However, there’s another requirement at the moment. Siri requests related to Health app data are currently available only in English and Mandarin Chinese. Apple has announced that more languages will follow, but the specifics and timing are yet to be disclosed.
Definitely, the ability to check and log Health app data through Siri on both the Apple Watch and iPhone represents a significant advancement in accessibility while safeguarding data privacy. It’s a feature that, with the right setup and device, we can already enjoy.
