Apple Watch, non-invasive blood glucose monitoring: new head of the project, closer breakthrough?

In recent days, oversight of Apple's project for non-invasive blood glucose monitoring on the Apple Watch has shifted from Tim Millet, head of platform architecture, to Zongjian Chen, a senior engineer leading the Advanced Technologies Group and proprietary modems. This revelation comes from Mark Gurman's Power On newsletter on Bloomberg, published on Sunday.

The change might seem like just another internal move, but it should be considered in a broader context: the project has been underway for over fifteen years and Gurman traces its origins back to the era of Steve Jobs. According to internal sources gathered by the journalist, Chen's name is associated with a manager who gets things done: some in Cupertino interpret the transition as a sign that development is finally approaching a phase compatible with a potential consumer version.

The change in responsibility in Srouji's reorganization

The broader context also includes the reorganization of the hardware division initiated by Johny Srouji following his appointment as Chief Hardware Officer, coinciding with the announcement of the succession between Tim Cook and John Ternus at the helm of the company, set for September 1, 2026. Srouji is reshuffling responsibilities among the areas that report to him, aiming to more closely integrate proprietary silicon development with the design of final devices.

Chen, who until recently was vice president responsible for wireless chips and modems, oversaw the same area from which the C1, Apple's first proprietary cellular modem, emerged. He was also considered one of the internal candidates for Srouji's succession when, at the end of 2025, speculation circulated for a few days about his potential departure. That speculation has subsided, but Chen's specific role within Cupertino's organizational chart is now more apparent.

How the sensor works

The technical principle is known from a previous Gurman report in 2023. The system is expected to emit beams of laser light at specific wavelengths towards the subcutaneous layer, where the interstitial fluid, the liquid that leaks from capillaries and moistens cells, is located. The glucose dissolved in that fluid absorbs some of the light; the light that returns to the sensor arrives with an intensity that an algorithm translates into a blood glucose estimate. In addition to the standard reading, the system is also expected to signal the first indications of prediabetes.

The ultimate goal is to provide those living with diabetes a reading of their blood glucose without finger pricking and without resorting to a skin-applied CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor) sensor. This is a promise that Cupertino has been pursuing even before the existence of the Apple Watch.

However, caution is needed regarding the timeline. Even after the leadership change, Gurman notes that non-invasive blood glucose monitoring on the Apple Watch will still require several more years of waiting and that, as is the case with many lab prototypes, it may never see the light of day. The challenges regarding accuracy, reliability in a medical context, and regulatory approval remain daunting.