Google just rolled out its most ambitious health tech experiment yet. Fitbit's AI-powered personal health coach is now live in public preview for eligible US Premium subscribers on Android, marking a major push into personalized wellness that could reshape how millions track their fitness. The timing couldn't be better - as wearables become increasingly sophisticated, Google's betting that conversational AI will be the key differentiator in the crowded health tech space.
Google is making its biggest bet yet on AI-powered health coaching. The company's Fitbit division just launched its personal health coach in public preview, giving US Premium subscribers their first taste of what conversational wellness might look like.
The AI coach isn't just another chatbot - it's designed to be a fitness trainer, sleep advisor, and wellness counselor all wrapped into one. "Fitbit's new AI-powered personal health coach is a fitness trainer, sleep coach and health and wellness advisor that work together to offer personalized recommendations and insights," Google announced today.
What makes this different from existing fitness apps is the conversational approach. Users can ask questions like "Should I be concerned about my sugar intake?" and get responses based on their actual activity data and vitals. The coach even follows up days later with unprompted insights - one beta tester received automatic feedback about how their cardio levels suggested their body was processing sugars just fine.
The rollout represents Google's answer to the growing competition in health wearables. While Apple focuses on medical-grade sensors and Samsung pushes advanced biometrics, Google's taking the AI-first approach that made its search business dominant.
"I've been using the personal health coach for the past month," wrote Molly McHugh-Johnson in Google's detailed hands-on review. "I've tuned its workout suggestions for my goals (and even changed them), asked for insight and adjustments (especially when I caught a cold), took a few deep dives into my sleep data and more."
The preview version includes several standout features that show Google's thinking. Users get access to 30 days of searchable chat history - crucial when the AI might recommend a high-protein dessert recipe you want to find weeks later. The system also auto-populates workout details when your Pixel Watch detects activity, making logging effortless.
