Apple has reportedly carried out another round of job cuts, specifically targeting its Fitness+ audio-content team. This marks the second instance of significant layoffs by the iPhone maker in less than two months, signaling ongoing organizational restructuring.
Fitness+ Team Affected by Cuts
According to a Bloomberg report, the latest layoffs occurred last week within the team responsible for audio content in Fitness+. This division develops popular features such as 'Time to Walk' and 'Time to Run,' alongside guided audio workouts designed for Apple Watch users who prefer audio guidance over video.
While the report clarifies that these features are not being discontinued, the reduction in staff suggests Apple may release new audio content less frequently in the future. The company is not discontinuing the Fitness+ service itself, but rather adjusting its content production pace.
Broader Restructuring Efforts
These recent job eliminations are part of a broader restructuring effort at Apple. The company conducted a larger round of layoffs in August, impacting over 200 employees. Those cuts primarily affected teams across Siri, the Vision Pro organization, and other Intelligent Systems Experience groups, with approximately 100 positions eliminated in Vision Pro and another 100 across Siri and various software teams.
Apple has stated that it is restructuring certain teams to adapt its business operations and enhance the development of new user experiences. While this process involves the creation of new positions, it also necessitates the elimination of a limited number of existing roles.
Potential Health App Integration
The recent layoffs within the Fitness+ division may also indicate a strategic shift towards a more unified health and fitness experience across Apple's services. Reports suggest Apple is exploring closer integration between Fitness+ and its Health app.
Future content for the Health app could include educational videos on health-related topics and information regarding health benchmarks. Given that Fitness+ already focuses on health and fitness content, some of its features could eventually be more deeply embedded within the Health app ecosystem. The exact number of employees impacted in the Fitness+ division has not been officially disclosed by Apple.