Friends Are the Best Health Coach AI Can’t Replace
▼ Summary
– The author advocates for embracing being “mid” or average in running, acknowledging life constraints like work and family that prevent elite athletic performance.
– Google’s AI health Coach in the Fitbit app offers an alternative to personal trainers, available as a public preview for Premium subscribers with specific device and location requirements.
– The author tested the Coach feature for three weeks with goals like improving running pace but faced criticism from others about relying on AI instead of human interaction.
– Fitbit’s Public Preview currently lacks features like menstrual health logging and advanced running metrics, and users can switch between it and the regular app version.
– While the AI Coach had initial inaccuracies, the author appreciated flexible workout adjustments and the option to track workouts without live metrics to reduce stress.
Let’s be honest, most of us are average athletes, and that’s perfectly fine. Life is full: jobs, kids, pets, relationships, and responsibilities leave little room for elite training. So what’s the best way to stay healthy without hiring a personal trainer? Some turn to AI-powered fitness tools, like custom GPT programs or Google’s new AI health Coach in the Fitbit app. Available as part of the $10 monthly Fitbit Premium subscription, this feature aims to offer personalized guidance for those squeezed for time.
I tested the Coach feature, currently in public preview, over three weeks. As a volunteer coach for Girls on the Run at my daughter’s school, I already had a running background. My goal was straightforward: beat two young runners in an upcoming 5K, aiming for a 7:30 mile pace. I felt optimistic until friends pointed out that talking to a computer might not be the healthiest approach, real human connection, they argued, matters more.
Before you jump in, know that Fitbit’s Public Preview has specific requirements. You must be an active Fitbit Premium subscriber, own an Android phone running Android 11 or higher, reside in the United States, and set both your phone and Fitbit app to English. It’s also worth noting that you can toggle between the preview and the standard app, which is helpful because the Coach version currently lacks several key functions. Menstrual health tracking, blood glucose logging, Cardio Fitness scores, and advanced running metrics for Pixel Watch 3 and 4 are all unavailable during the preview.
I used the service with a Pixel Watch 4 paired to a Pixel 9 phone. Fitbit has indicated that iOS compatibility is in the works. My prior experience with Fitbit’s Running Coach had been mediocre, but I held higher hopes for the health coach given its broader, more adaptable scope. Many seasoned runners emphasize that training involves answering countless yes-or-no questions, like whether to run with a slight cold or reschedule a long run. A little expert input goes a long way. After completing a 10-minute survey about my goals and available equipment, Fitbit plans to eventually integrate multimodal inputs, such as video analysis of gym equipment, I waited for the AI to generate my plan.
Initial impressions, however, were underwhelming. The Coach mistakenly assumed I was attending a work conference, which wasn’t the case. Correcting it was simple enough, switching treadmill sessions and hotel workouts to outdoor runs and basic strength training in front of the TV. You can monitor live metrics through the Fitbit app or just record workouts on your watch and sync data afterward. I personally preferred the latter. While some enjoy real-time tracking, I find it adds pressure and isn’t always precise, especially when running through neighborhood streets instead of on a measured track.
(Source: Wired)
