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Google Brings Fitbit AI Health Coach to iPhone as Apple Pulls Back on iOS 27 Health Plans

Amid rumors that Apple is scaling back its AI health plans, Google today expanded its subscription-based Fitbit AI personal health coach service to more users worldwide, including those who are on iOS. Prior to now, the Fitbit service was limited to Android users.

fitbit health coach
The Gemini-powered Fitbit personal health coach is described as a 24/7 digital advisor that’s meant to work as a virtual fitness trainer, sleep coach, and health and wellness advisor. Users start with a 5 to 10 minute conversation with the coach to outline their motivations and goals, with the Fitbit app then providing health insights in the morning after the user wakes up, after workouts, and before bed.

The app is able to generate a personalized workout plan that tracks core fitness metrics, and it offers up sleep analysis and suggestions for improving sleep. It tracks vitals such as heart rate, temperature, and blood oxygen, plus there is a built-in chatbot for asking all kinds of health-related questions.

Apple was supposedly working on a similar AI health coach feature, which was going to be part of a Health+ service planned for launch in iOS 27. Earlier this month, Bloomberg said that Apple is scaling back its AI health plans.

Apple is no longer planning to launch an Apple Health+ service that will give users AI health recommendations based on personal health data, but some of the components that Apple developed for the health coach could be repurposed and rolled out as other features as soon as this year.

Google’s Fitbit AI health coach is now available to Fitbit Premium subscribers in the United States, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. Both iOS and Android users can take advantage of the feature.

Google sells several Fitbit health devices, including the Charge 6, Inspire 3, Versa 4, and Sense 2. Google’s Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Watch 4 also work with Fitbit Premium and the AI health coach feature. Fitbit Premium is priced starting at $9.99 per month.

Tags: Fitbit, Google

Top Rated Comments

MacUserFella Avatar
7 weeks ago
Is Google just gonna do everything for Apple now?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CWallace Avatar
7 weeks ago
I believe concerns about potential legal liability about health information and health recommendations are a reason why Apple is pulling back from "health coaching".

Google does not appear to share those concerns, but then they have a history of playing fast and loose...
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
7 weeks ago
Now that’s a power move. At this point, Google is running circles around Apple with AI.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rychiar Avatar
7 weeks ago

Is Google just gonna do everything for Apple now?
Might as well. Apple sure drops them ball themselves anymore
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
7 weeks ago
Apple Health is such a wasted opportunity. I saw an Instagram video about an annual "Apple Health recap" concept. That would be cool. The data just isn't presented in an appealing way.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
7 weeks ago

Is Google just gonna do everything for Apple now?
No, we’re just not getting a Chatbot/Coach — and good. I don’t need AI coaching me on my health and least of all would I want Google having that data. Apple Already gives you Sleep Score, Workout suggestions based on habit, and while doing so provides your heart metrics.

There is a time to use AI and a time to pull back and —to me — I’m cool with apple pulling back on this and focusing on the aspects we actually want.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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