Google just launched Fitbit's most ambitious update yet - a complete app redesign centered around a Gemini-powered AI health coach that's now rolling out to Premium subscribers in the US on Android. This isn't just another chatbot feature; it's a ground-up reimagining of how wearable tech interacts with users, offering personalized workout plans, natural language conversations, and real-time fitness adjustments. The move signals Google's serious push into AI-powered health services, potentially disrupting the $4.4 billion fitness app market.
Google is making its biggest bet on AI-powered fitness yet. The company's Fitbit division just launched a dramatically redesigned app experience built around a Gemini-powered health coach that started rolling out to Premium subscribers today. This isn't your typical AI add-on - it's a complete reimagining of how fitness wearables should work.
The timing couldn't be more strategic. As Apple pushes deeper into health services and startups like Whoop gain traction with personalized coaching, Google needed a standout response. The new Fitbit app delivers exactly that.
"Rather than bolting AI features onto the existing app, the health coach is offered as an opt-in experience wrapped up in a redesigned Fitbit app," Taylor Helgren, Fitbit product manager, told The Verge. The distinction matters - this is architectural, not cosmetic.
Users start with a 5-10 minute conversation with the AI coach, either through text or voice. The system analyzes your fitness history, current goals, and available equipment to create weekly workout plans from a built-in exercise library. Want to train for a 5K? Building strength? Recovering from injury? The coach adapts in real-time based on natural language input.
The "coach's notes" feature tracks these conversations, creating a persistent fitness dialogue that evolves with your needs. It's a stark contrast to traditional fitness apps that offer static routines or basic progress tracking.
But Google faces serious challenges here. AI hallucinations could prove dangerous when dispensing health advice, especially as the coach is designed to field medical questions alongside fitness guidance. Helgren says the team worked with "internal and external clinicians and fitness experts" to build safety frameworks, with the system programmed to refer users to healthcare professionals when appropriate.
The rollout strategy reveals cautious approach. Android Premium users get first access, with iOS following "later this year." Features like nutrition and cycle tracking remain on the roadmap. Users can switch between the new AI experience and the traditional app at will.
