Fitbit App Rebrands to Google Health With New AI Features

Five years after acquiring Fitbit, Google has officially rebranded the Fitbit app as Google Health, marking a significant shift in the company’s approach to personal wellness [1]. The transition, which began rolling out on May 19, integrates a new AI-powered Health Coach designed to provide personalized guidance and parse medical records [1].

Key takeaways

• The Fitbit app is now Google Health, and Google plans to sunset the 12-year-old Google Fit app later this year [1].
• A new AI-powered Health Coach, built on Google’s Gemini models, offers personalized fitness and health insights for a monthly subscription fee [1].
• Google announced the Fitbit Air, a new screenless health tracker, as part of its ongoing commitment to the Fitbit hardware brand [1].
• A survey of over 1,500 readers by Android Authority found that while 51% of users appreciate the new app's design, they find the user experience inferior to the previous version [2].
• Google maintains that Fitbit user data remains siloed and is not used for advertising purposes, consistent with the original acquisition terms [1].

Integrating AI and Hardware

The centerpiece of the Google Health app is the Health Coach, which is powered by Gemini models and grounded in scientific feedback from a Consumer Health Advisory Panel [1]. While the app is free to use for basic activity and sleep tracking, the Health Coach and advanced features—such as adaptive fitness plans—require a $10 monthly Google Health Premium subscription [1]. Google’s vice president for health and home, Rishi Chandra, noted that the company delayed the launch of new hardware until the AI coaching experience was ready [1]. Alongside the app update, Google introduced the Fitbit Air, an ultra-lightweight, screenless tracker designed for simplicity [1].

Despite the technological updates, the transition has faced criticism regarding usability. In a survey conducted by Android Authority, users reported that the new interface makes it difficult to locate basic metrics, such as previous day step counts or hourly activity graphs [2]. Some users expressed frustration that the app prioritizes AI-generated text over clear data visualizations, with several commenters noting that their feedback during the public preview phase appeared to go unaddressed [2].

Why it matters

The rebranding represents Google’s attempt to centralize its health ecosystem, supporting both Health Connect and Apple’s HealthKit to allow for broader data integration [1]. While Google aims to provide a "one-stop shop" for health, the company acknowledges that its AI models can occasionally "hallucinate" or provide inaccurate information, emphasizing that the tool is not intended to diagnose conditions or replace medical professionals [1]. Looking ahead, Google plans to expand the Health Coach’s compatibility beyond Fitbit and Pixel Watch devices to include a wider range of wearables, including the Apple Watch [1]. The company also intends to restore social features, such as challenges, to encourage user accountability [1].