Apple has announced its plan to introduce a personal journaling app, code-named Jurassic, at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. The app is designed to be pre-installed on all iPhones that run iOS 17 and will be deeply integrated with location services, contacts, and other features on the user’s phone.
According to an internal Apple document analyzed by the Wall Street Journal, the company intends to market the app as a mental health tool, citing research that suggests regular journaling can help manage depression and anxiety.
The app will be able to analyze data stored on the user’s phone to identify the typical daily routine and suggest topics for journaling. It will also offer the “All Day People Discovery” feature that tracks the user’s proximity to others and differentiates between work colleagues and friends.
The integration of Jurassic with other pre-installed apps and user data is expected to set it apart from other journaling options on the iPhone, making it challenging for them to compete. This move has already garnered criticism from some app developers, who claim that Apple has a track record of copying features from third-party apps and incorporating them into their in-house competitors.
To address these concerns, Apple’s documentation for Jurassic emphasizes the company’s commitment to user privacy and security. Most, if not all, of the user tracking data the app uses will remain on the user’s iPhone, and in some cases, will not be retained for more than a few weeks.
The introduction of the Jurassic app aligns with Apple’s recent push towards wellness features, such as the Mindfulness app introduced with the Apple Watch in 2021. With the global pandemic still impacting mental health, Apple’s focus on wellness is expected to resonate with users.
The WWDC keynote is expected to provide additional details about Jurassic, including its official name and release date.
