Fitbit Unveils a Fresh Look and Enhanced AI Features, But the Experience Remains in Early Development
After hinting at a significant redesign for the Fitbit app earlier this year, Google is now launching the new experience for select users. This introduces a completely fresh appearance to the app, resulting in a much more visually engaging experience, complete with a new layout and updated navigation. However, it offers more than just a cosmetic change.
Alongside the new appearance, Google is launching an AI-driven health coach to assist you in establishing a personalized fitness plan. This feature is integrated throughout the new user interface, making it easy to reach the coach from anywhere to receive contextual insights on your performance and metrics.
Who is Eligible for the New Fitbit Preview?
The primary requirement for accessing the new Fitbit preview is a subscription to Fitbit Premium. This subscription costs $9.99 per month, or you can opt for an annual plan at the equivalent rate of $7.99 per month. If you’ve recently acquired a new Fitbit device, such as the Pixel Watch 4, you may also be eligible for a free trial.
Google also mentions that the preview is currently exclusive to U.S. Fitbit subscribers, though this could change as testing progresses.
Steps to Join the Fitbit Preview
1. Launch the app. A banner at the top may highlight the “new Fitbit features.” Tap Join.
2. Review the subsequent page and tap Join public preview.
3. The next page will underscore how the Fitbit preview leverages Google AI, indicating it will have access to prior and future Fitbit data, along with other “Things to know.” Once you complete your review, tap Agree.
4. The following page will inquire if you wish to permit your data to aid in health research “to develop health and wellness features at Fitbit and Google,” although participation is optional. Review the details regarding its operation and data usage, then tap Agree or No thanks at the bottom.
5. Tap Start exploring to view a brief introduction of the new Fitbit features accessible in the preview.
6. After the introduction, you’ll be prompted to start a conversation with the AI to begin establishing your goals. You can tap Continue to start the chat or Explore the app now, chat later to delve into the new Fitbit experience.
7. The AI health coach will give a brief introduction about itself and the purpose of the initial conversation. Start by expressing what you aim to achieve. You can mention phrases like “I want to lose weight,” “I want to gain muscle,” “I want to enhance my running stamina,” or any mixture of goals you wish to reach. Converse naturally.
8. Keep discussing with the AI coach as it queries you about past or current methods for achieving your goals, your motivations, and more. In the end, it will summarize the discussion.
9. The coach will ask if you wish to develop a workout plan based on your goals. Tap Continue to create a workout plan or Explore the app to set it up later.
10. While creating the workout plan, the AI coach will utilize the prior conversation about your goals and motivations to start proposing a plan. Use this opportunity to inform the coach of any current fitness activities so it can tailor a more specific plan for you, including the days you prefer to engage in certain activities.
11. Continue the dialogue with the AI coach, which will modify its plan based on the information you share. It may inquire about the equipment you have available or any medical issues that might affect your workouts.
12. At the conclusion of the conversation, the AI coach will recap what was discussed. Tap Take me back to the app to explore the new Fitbit.
Your plan will take a few moments to generate and will be displayed on the Today tab once completed, as well as in the Fitness tab, where you can modify the plan or discuss it further with the AI coach.
Discovering the New Fitbit Preview
The updated Fitbit user interface features four primary tabs at the bottom, each concentrating on a different aspect of your health.
The Today tab has been refreshed, showcasing pertinent updates and insights from today’s activities, your sleep, and a recap of the previous day’s activities and metrics. Tapping the pencil icon allows you to modify the focus metrics that show at the top of the Today tab.
The Fitness tab replaces the former Coach tab. Here, you can view your workout plan, exercise days, recent activities, key metrics, and more. You can also see your current goal at the top and adjust it if necessary.
The Sleep tab offers insights on your sleep with straightforward methods to track your sleep consistency and key metrics like the duration spent in each sleep stage.
The Health tab provides a summary of your vitals and overall health. This is where you can enable detection features, such as warnings for high and low heart rates.
