If the idea of a 20-minute chat with an AI fitness coach makes you feel a little uneasy, you're not alone. This is why I initially shrugged when Google first mentioned its forthcoming Fitbit 'Coach' feature, powered by Gemini AI, during this summer's launch of the Pixel Watch 4.
In the past 12 months, nearly every smartwatch and smart ring maker has rushed to incorporate shiny new AI tools within their companion apps, supposedly with the goal of creating a more personalized and informative user experience. However, from my experience testing these new features so far, none really live up to the hype.
At best, AI-based wellness assistants are able to surface your holistic metrics when called upon and provide slightly better-than-common-sense answers to queries. Some, like Apple's Workout Buddy and Samsung's Running Coach, can even create customized workout routines for basic activities like running.
Fitbit Coach aims to take things a step further with highly specific and adaptive training plans based on a user's goal, abilities, equipment, personal preferences, and current health trends. It's also a 24/7 chatbot, supposedly with the ability to answer genuinely complex questions.
Currently available to Fitbit Premium subscribers ($9.99 a month/$79.99 a year) as a not-fully-flushed-out preview, Google has lofty ambitions for Fitbit Coach. On the user end, the onboarding process starts with a long, personal chat with 'The Coach.'
Despite my hesitations, I fired up the Fitbit app on my Pixel phone and dove headfirst into the wild west of AI-powered fitness training.
Here are the five biggest things that surprised me about the Fibit Coach onboarding process.
1. The whole process was surprisingly conversational
When I first demoed Fitbit Coach, Google reps recommended that I complete the onboarding process via dictation using my standard conversational voice. The questions during the process are presented via a text chat, and indeed, you can type your answers in. However, I found pressing the small microphone and dictating my answers made everything feel more natural.
The Gemini-powered Coach responds via text with an upbeat and encouraging tone. The goal of the onboarding is for your Coach to get an understanding of your current health status and goals, and then parlay that into a customized weekly fitness plan.
The first thing the Coach asks is what kinds of workouts you currently enjoy. I was admittedly pretty rambly in my answer; however, the Coach was able to parse my key points without any issue, possibly better than a human might.
2. I spoke to the 'Coach' for nearly 20 minutes
I said that my primary goal is to prep my legs for extra stamina come snowboard season.
Google says the onboarding process takes an average of fifteen minutes. Time must fly when you're talking about personal wellness, because I clocked my onboarding at just under 20 minutes. As noted above, I definitely rambled a bit in my answers and jumped back and forth between topics. None of this caused any hiccups with the Coach understanding my abilities and fitness habits, though.
After asking about your current workout routines and preferences, the Coach then inquires about your fitness goals. For this, I said that my primary goal was to prep my legs for extra stamina come snowboard season. I also expressed a desire to incorporate more short bursts of cardio into my work days, along with additional dumbbell-based workouts to tone my upper body.
'No problemo,' said the Coach.
3. Goals are now weekly, rather than daily
Since the dawn of the fitness tracker, daily step count and physical activity goals have been the norm. That will no longer be the case for Fitbit and Pixel Watch users. Google is moving away from daily goals and instead placing an emphasis on weekly ones.
Rather than stressing about 'closing your Rings' on a daily basis, as Apple Watch users are accustomed to, Fitbit/Pixel Watch owners will now be encouraged to look at their wellness through the lens of a rolling seven-day period.
This change, which is already in place within the new Fitbit Premium preview, will ultimately make its way to all users, including non-Premium ones, with an app relaunch set for early 2026.
4. My Coach-generated workout plan is well varied
Once you complete your onboarding with the Coach — which ends with a question about any health conditions or concerns — it takes about 20 minutes for the Coach (Gemini) to generate your personal workout plan.
When mine was finally ready, I gave it a quick look over and was nothing short of impressed. As requested, the workouts are varied day-to-day, considerably. On Wednesday, I was instructed to do a 'leg endurance builder' workout, which consists of a mix of Goblet Squats, Step-ups, and Forward Lunges.
Thursday is a 'quick cardio and upper body toning' day, with a thorough list of ten exercises to complete. On Friday, my focus is on quick, aerobic walking to help with stamina. Saturday is for glute and quad endurance.
5. Adjusting workouts is as simple as chatting with ‘The Coach’
If I'm not feeling one of the suggested workouts or it's outside of my abilities, I can simply 'chat' with the Coach and ask for an alternative workout at any given time, or simply remove the workout from my routine with a few taps.
Also of note, several of the exercises recommended by the Coach are new to me. Fortunately, there are visual demonstrations with explainers for each.
While I've only begun scratching the surface of what the new Gemini AI-powered Fitbit Coach feature is capable of — this is my first week following the training plan — I'm already cautiously optimistic about how useful, and not-creepy-robot-like the whole experience is.
Stay tuned for a deeper dive into the Fitbit Coach preview.
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