Google’s AI-fication of the Fitbit app is charging full velocity forward and can quickly be reaching extra individuals and extra nations. After debuting as an Android-exclusive preview for US Premium subscribers, Google has introduced that the general public preview of its redesigned Fitbit app and health coach/concierge is opening to iPhone customers beginning Feb. 10.
The Gemini AI-powered “Coach” will even roll out in English to Fitbit Premium subscribers within the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore on each iOS and Android.
Google debuted the redesigned Fitbit app and built-in Coach as an elective public preview in late October for eligible Fitbit Premium subscribers on Android and has since been amassing suggestions from early adopters to refine the expertise. This enlargement brings the brand new app to extra individuals, producing further suggestions alternatives and transferring nearer to a remaining model launch.
Because the race to construct smarter, extra customized well being platforms intensifies, Google is leaning on its full ecosystem of {hardware}, software program and AI assistant to set Fitbit aside. With the wrist because the centerpoint of the info (through Pixel Watch and Fitbit trackers), Google is aiming to evolve its platform from a passive health tracker right into a proactive, AI-driven wellness companion.
Google first introduced Fitbit’s new AI well being coach at its Pixel launch occasion in August.
What to anticipate
The redesigned app expertise has a cleaner UI that is extra intuitive to navigate than the earlier model. It is constructed round 4 primary tabs: In the present day, Health, Sleep and Well being.
The In the present day tab, which is what you will seek the advice of most steadily, highlights glanceable stats with a stronger concentrate on weekly developments. Google says these are a more true reflection of progress in comparison with the same old day-to-day insights that different trackers emphasize. The opposite tabs allow you to dig deeper into detailed metrics throughout classes like sleep phases and vitals. And this time, the burden of deciphering the info will not simply fall solely on the person.
Woven all through the app is a brand new Coach function, you could entry by an “Ask Coach” immediate. Coach attracts on real-time and historic information to assist make sense of your metrics and even flip them into a private motion plan. Google describes it as an “always-on” coach that may reply to questions or proactively modify your plan primarily based on latest exercise, readiness, and even life occasions like journey or missed exercises.
For instance, you would possibly ask, “I’ve half-hour for a exercise… What do you advocate?” or “How can I enhance my VO2 max?” And even draw hyperlinks to your individual stats with prompts like, “Do I sleep higher on days after I get extra steps in?”
In the course of the (elective) onboarding course of, you may set targets, log accessible health gear and observe accidents or limitations. The preview begins with a brief 5-10 minute dialog (both by textual content or voice) to assist the AI perceive your targets and motivations. From there, the plan dynamically adjusts primarily based on altering metrics like coaching load, readiness rating and in a single day restoration information, holding the whole lot aligned together with your long-term targets.
Participation within the teaching expertise is opt-in, so you may nonetheless use Fitbit with out the AI options in the event you want.
Fitbit followers testing the revamped app have the choice to toggle between the previous and new variations.
Availability and pricing
The replace –launched first to US-based Android users– will even be accessible to individuals within the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore (18 and older) who subscribe to Fitbit Premium ($10 a month or $80 a 12 months) no matter telephone. Sure, meaning iPhone house owners too. It really works with the newest Fitbit trackers, smartwatches and Pixel Watch fashions. In the course of the preview part, you may toggle between the previous and new app designs with out dropping information, permitting for side-by-side comparability and suggestions assortment.
Google says person enter from this era can be key to shaping the top results of the app expertise and may have an built-in suggestions instrument for testers. Whereas the corporate hasn’t confirmed a agency finish date for the preview, it says the expertise will proceed to increase to extra customers and gadgets over time.
Fitbit’s new coach is powered by Google’s Gemini AI voice assistant.
The actual check
This redesign and Coach function present severe potential. If it delivers on Google’s guarantees of bringing professional-grade teaching to mainstream customers, it might mark a turning level for wellness tech and will place Google on the entrance of the pack. The corporate says the coach expertise was developed with enter from well being specialists and a client advisory panel, and that person information is not going to be used for Google Advertisements.
However as with the whole lot within the AI world, execution can be the whole lot, and the worth of a wellness coach should be compelling sufficient — and correct sufficient — to beat the hesitation of entrusting one more AI function with delicate well being information. However the actual check lies in how properly Google manages privateness, information safety and real-world usefulness. That stability might imply the distinction between only a repackaged Gemini that most individuals flip off, and a game-changing instrument that interprets your information into motion.
For now, it is a promising preview, however one I will be testing firsthand as soon as it rolls out.
