Google’s AI-fication of the Fitbit app is charging full pace forward and can quickly be reaching extra individuals and extra international locations. 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 well being coach/concierge is opening to iPhone customers beginning Feb. 10.
The Gemini AI-powered “Coach” can 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 optionally available 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 shifting nearer to a last model launch.
Because the race to construct smarter, extra personalised 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 fundamental tabs: At this time, Health, Sleep and Well being.
The At this time tab, which is what you may seek the advice of most incessantly, highlights glanceable stats with a stronger give attention to weekly tendencies. 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 characteristic, you could entry by way of an “Ask Coach” immediate. Coach attracts on real-time and historic knowledge 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 regulate your plan primarily based on current exercise, readiness, and even life occasions like journey or missed exercises.
For instance, you may 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?”
Throughout the (optionally available) onboarding course of, you’ll be able to set objectives, log out there health gear and be aware 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 objectives and motivations. From there, the plan dynamically adjusts primarily based on altering metrics like coaching load, readiness rating and in a single day restoration knowledge, maintaining all the pieces aligned together with your long-term objectives.
Participation within the teaching expertise is opt-in, so you’ll be able to nonetheless use Fitbit with out the AI options should 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 customers — can even be out there 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 yr) no matter telephone. Sure, meaning iPhone homeowners too. It really works with the most recent Fitbit trackers, smartwatches and Pixel Watch fashions. Throughout the preview section, you’ll be able to toggle between the previous and new app designs with out shedding knowledge, permitting for side-by-side comparability and suggestions assortment.
Google says person enter from this era can be key to shaping the tip results of the app expertise and may have an built-in suggestions software for testers. Whereas the corporate hasn’t confirmed a agency finish date for the preview, it says the expertise will proceed to broaden to extra customers and units over time.
Fitbit’s new coach is powered by Google’s Gemini AI voice assistant.
The true take a look at
This redesign and Coach characteristic present critical potential. If it delivers on Google’s guarantees of bringing professional-grade teaching to mainstream customers, it may 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 shopper advisory panel, and that person knowledge won’t be used for Google Adverts.
However as with all the pieces within the AI world, execution can be all the pieces, and the worth of a wellness coach have to be compelling sufficient — and correct sufficient — to beat the hesitation of entrusting one more AI characteristic with delicate well being knowledge. However the actual take a look at lies in how properly Google manages privateness, knowledge safety and real-world usefulness. That steadiness may imply the distinction between only a repackaged Gemini that most individuals flip off, and a game-changing software that interprets your knowledge into motion.
For now, it is a promising preview, however one I will be testing firsthand as soon as it rolls out.
