In addition to removing the bandages the new Fitbit aira Whoop-style fitness band, Google also said Thursday that it is changing the name of your Fitbit app to Google Health and the launch of an AI-powered health coach as a subscription service.
The Health app will become a central part of Google’s fitness strategy, leveraging its Fitbit acquisition in 2021which saw the tech giant delve into wearable fitness devices to complement its more general-purpose Android smartwatches.
Leveraging Google’s Gemini AI, the new Google Health Coach will offer personalized information to users, acting as a combination of fitness coach, sleep expert, and health and wellness advisor. The service has been in public preview since last year and has seen improvements based on user feedback, the company said.
Google says the Health app will be available globally on May 19, as part of the Google Health Premium subscription, the same day the new Fitbit Air goes on sale. The AI fitness training service will come included with the Google Health Premium (formerly Fitbit Premium) subscription, which costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year. Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers will have access to Google Health Premium at no additional cost.
Google notes that the health coach service is personalized for the user through an onboarding process, in which you will mention your health goals, your daily routine, what type of exercise equipment you have access to, any injuries the coach should take into account, and other lifestyle factors. The coach will then use these details to create personalized guidance and information.
Users can also communicate with the coach using natural language to personalize and update their personal data or goals at any time. They can also record workouts, meals, and health records by dictating them or uploading photos or files.
The coach will be accessible from the Today tab of the Google Health app. The company notes that any information the trainer provides will not be just a summary, but will combine information from multiple sources, such as fitness and sleep metrics, environment, nutrition, cycle tracking, and US medical records (if access is provided). Google said cycle tracking, nutrition, and mental wellness features have also been redesigned for the health advisor.
The AI-powered coach is also being rolled out to other areas of the Google Health app, including workout suggestions and guidance in the Fitness tab, sleep tracking in the Sleep tab, and summary of your metrics in the Health tab.
Google’s health coach will be available first to select Fitbit and Pixel Watch users, with support for other devices coming soon, the company says. However, anyone can download the Google Health app to get started. People without a Fitbit or Google Pixel Watch will be notified when the trainer is ready for them, but Google didn’t say when that would be.
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