Fitbit has extended its Gemini-powered artificial intelligence health coach to iPhone users and expanded availability to five additional countries, marking a significant step in Google’s effort to integrate generative AI into consumer wellness tools.The feature, available to Fitbit Premium subscribers, brings Google’s Gemini AI models into the Fitbit app on iOS after an initial launch on Android. The company said the expansion covers markets beyond the United States, adding support in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand. The rollout follows months of testing and incremental feature updates aimed at refining the coach’s conversational and analytical capabilities.
Fitbit, owned by Google, first previewed its AI health coach as part of a broader strategy to embed Gemini across its hardware and services ecosystem. The health-focused assistant is designed to interpret activity metrics, sleep patterns and heart-rate data, and then provide tailored insights and prompts in natural language. Unlike static dashboards, the AI coach allows users to ask questions about trends in their health data, request explanations and receive suggestions for improvement.
Executives at Google have framed the move as part of a longer-term ambition to position Gemini as a personal assistant across devices, from smartphones to wearables. The Fitbit integration illustrates how generative AI is being adapted for regulated, data-sensitive environments such as health tracking. The company has emphasised that the AI coach operates within established privacy controls, with user consent governing data analysis and responses generated within Fitbit’s ecosystem.
For iPhone users, the expansion narrows a gap that had frustrated some Premium subscribers. Fitbit devices have long been compatible with iOS, but new AI-driven features often debut first on Android, where Google exerts tighter integration control. By enabling the Gemini coach within the Fitbit iOS app, Google signals an intention to maintain cross-platform competitiveness, particularly as Apple continues to strengthen its own health and fitness software offerings tied to the Apple Watch.
Industry analysts note that competition in digital health is intensifying as major technology groups seek to differentiate wearables and subscription services. Apple has invested heavily in health metrics and machine learning-driven insights within its Health app and watchOS. Samsung has advanced its Galaxy AI branding across mobile devices and wearables. Against this backdrop, Google’s decision to push Gemini deeper into Fitbit is seen as an attempt to leverage its advances in large language models to create more interactive, personalised experiences.
The AI coach analyses historical data trends and can respond to queries such as why a user’s resting heart rate changed over a given period or how sleep patterns correlate with activity levels. It can also suggest behavioural adjustments based on recorded metrics. Fitbit says the tool is not a medical diagnostic service and is intended for general wellness guidance. That distinction is critical in markets where digital health products may otherwise fall under medical device regulations.
Expanding to five additional countries increases the addressable base for Fitbit Premium, which is positioned as a subscription tier offering deeper analytics, guided workouts and now AI-driven coaching. Subscription growth has become strategically important for hardware makers facing maturing device sales. By tying advanced AI features to Premium, Google aims to boost recurring revenue while encouraging long-term engagement with Fitbit devices.
The deployment also reflects broader trends in generative AI monetisation. Since unveiling Gemini as a successor to its earlier Bard chatbot branding, Google has integrated the model into Workspace tools, Android smartphones and Pixel devices. Extending it to health coaching tests consumer appetite for AI beyond productivity and search, into everyday personal data interpretation.
Privacy and data security remain central concerns. Health metrics are among the most sensitive categories of personal information. Google has said that Fitbit health and wellness data are stored separately from advertising data and are not used for ad targeting. The company has reiterated commitments made during regulatory reviews of its Fitbit acquisition, including safeguards around data usage and interoperability.
Experts in digital health caution that while AI-driven coaching can enhance user engagement, its advice must be framed carefully to avoid overreach. Generative models can produce plausible but occasionally inaccurate responses if not constrained properly. Companies deploying such systems in health contexts typically incorporate guardrails, limit the scope of queries and provide disclaimers to mitigate risks.
The move into additional English-speaking markets suggests Google is taking a phased approach, prioritising regions where language support aligns with Gemini’s strongest capabilities. Further international expansion may depend on regulatory landscapes and localisation requirements.
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