- Apple has reportedly cut a small number of Fitness+ employees, marking its second reported layoff round in less than two months.
- The latest cuts affect audio features including Time to Walk and Time to Run, with new content expected to be released less frequently.
- More than 200 employees were affected in Apple’s previous round of reported layoffs in August.
Apple has reportedly cut a small number of employees from its Fitness+ team, marking its second reported round of layoffs in less than two months.
According to a Bloomberg report, the latest cuts affected employees working on the audio side of Fitness+, including Time to Walk and Time to Run, which allow Apple Watch users to access guided workouts and stories without watching a video.
The features are not being discontinued, although new audio content is expected to be released less frequently following the cuts.
The latest move comes only weeks after Apple reportedly laid off more than 200 employees across teams working on Siri, Vision Pro and Intelligent Systems Experience, a unit within its software engineering organization involved in some artificial intelligence-related features.
Around 100 roles were reportedly affected within the Vision Pro organization, with another 100 or so positions cut across Siri and software teams.
Apple said at the time that it was realigning some teams as it looked to evolve its business and deliver better experiences for users. The company also said new positions would be created even as a limited number of existing roles were affected.
The timing of the Fitness+ cuts has raised fresh questions about how Apple is managing the service and where it sees opportunities to reduce costs.
What could change for Fitness+?
Fitness+ requires a steady flow of new workout content, creating ongoing production costs. The economics of the subscription service can also be affected by subscriber churn.
A Bloomberg report has suggested that the latest cuts could be an early sign of broader cost reductions and structural changes around Fitness+. However, the service itself is not currently reported to be facing discontinuation.
Apple is also working on changes to its Health app, including video content designed to explain health topics and benchmarks. This has prompted speculation that some Fitness+ functions could eventually be brought closer to the Health platform.
For now, the reported changes appear more limited. Time to Walk and Time to Run are expected to continue, while the frequency of new audio releases could decline.
The developments also come as technology companies increasingly reassess staffing and spending while investing heavily in artificial intelligence, automation and other areas viewed as strategic priorities.
For technology workers, that shift is changing the types of skills companies are seeking. Hiring demand is increasingly moving toward areas such as AI engineering, cybersecurity, cloud computing, data analytics and automation, while some companies are becoming more cautious about expanding traditional teams.
For Apple, the latest cuts are notable less for their reported size than for their timing. A second round of layoffs in under two months suggests the company is continuing to review where resources are allocated across different products and teams, even as Fitness+ remains part of its broader services and health offering.
