Are you ready to revolutionize your fitness journey with AI? Fitbit’s game-changing app and AI health coach are here, and they’re about to shake up how you approach wellness. But here’s where it gets exciting: this isn’t just a minor update—it’s a complete reimagining of what a fitness app can do. Today marks the debut of Fitbit’s Gemini-powered health coach in public preview, part of a brand-new app experience first teased back in August. If you’re a Premium subscriber in the U.S. on Android, you’re in luck—you get first dibs. iOS users, don’t worry; Fitbit promises it’s coming your way later this year, according to Taylor Helgren, Fitbit’s product manager.
But here’s the part most people miss: This isn’t just AI slapped onto an existing app. The health coach is a standalone, opt-in experience wrapped in a sleek, redesigned Fitbit app. It’s not fully loaded yet—features like nutrition tracking and cycle monitoring are on the horizon—but it’s already a big step forward. Users can seamlessly switch between the new and old app versions, giving you the best of both worlds. The journey starts with a 5- to 10-minute chat with your AI coach (via text or voice), where you’ll set goals and preferences. Based on your input and Fitbit data—both past and present—the coach crafts a personalized weekly workout plan from a library of exercises. Whether you’re training for a 5K or building strength, it adapts to your equipment and fitness level.
Once you’re up and running, the magic happens through natural language conversations. Need to tweak your plan due to an injury or a busy week? Just tell your coach. These interactions are logged in a handy section called ‘coach’s notes,’ making it easy to track progress. What sets this apart is its depth—it’s not just spitting out generic advice. As my colleague, senior wearables reviewer Victoria Song, aptly puts it, this avoids the ‘Captain Obvious-level summaries’ often seen in AI tools.
But here’s where it gets controversial: With such an ambitious AI-driven overhaul, there are risks. What if the coach ‘hallucinates’—providing incorrect or misleading information? After all, it’s designed to handle both fitness and medical queries. Helgren assures that Fitbit collaborated with clinicians, fitness experts, and an advisory panel to build a robust safety framework. Crucially, the coach knows when to step aside and refer users to healthcare professionals. Still, it raises questions: How reliable is AI in such a sensitive domain? And who’s accountable if something goes wrong?
This is just the beginning of a long journey. Google hints at a full launch ‘next year,’ but details are scarce. It’s an ambitious move, no doubt, and one that could redefine personalized fitness—or spark heated debates about AI’s role in health. What do you think? Is this the future of fitness, or a step too far? Let’s discuss in the comments!
