Google
has unveiled its new screenless, buttonless Fitbit Air, a wearable designed for 24/7 use, and announced that its Fitbit app will now become the Google Health app, a centralized health platform that works across Fitbit and Pixel Watch.
The Fitbit Air tracks heart rate, sleep stages and sleep score, blood oxygen, skin temperature, heart rate variability, irregular heart rhythm (including a-fib notifications), and steps, calories and workouts. It is compatible with Android and iOS.
"You can start a workout from the app, follow along with a coach-recommended guided workout or simply get going and Fitbit Air will detect and track common activities automatically, sending you a recap of your workout," the company said in a statement.
"The automatic detection gets better over time and is personalized to you. And of course, you can log your workouts manually anytime, or with the Google Health Coach, you can even snap a photo of your cardio equipment, or the circuit training routine on the whiteboard at the gym.”
In addition to the heart-tracking features of the Fitbit Air, wearers will have access to AI-powered coaching through Google Health Coach, built with Gemini AI, that provides personalized insights on workouts, recovery, sleep and wellness.
Google said its Health app integrates with numerous third-party apps and devices through Health Connect, Apple Health and Google Health APIs, and allows users to combine data from platforms like Peloton, MyFitnessPal, Dexcom and Abbott into a single dashboard.
In addition to accessing their health tracking data from the Fitbit Air or Pixel Watch through the Google Health app, the company said users will be able to access their health records in one place, including uploading medical records by logging in to and syncing the Google Health app with their healthcare provider's portal.
Google's Health Coach will be able to access the user's records and answer questions based on their medical history.
Users will also be able to share their health data with family, friends, providers or other apps. Eventually, the company said, users will be able to generate smart health links to share their health data with providers or other parties.
Fitbit Air's basic health-tracking features are free, but its AI coaching features require a Google Health Premium subscription at $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year. The company said a three-month free trial is included.
The Fitbit Air is available for pre-order, starting at $99.99, and will be on shelves on May 26.
The Fitbit Air Special Edition, designed by professional basketball player Stephen Curry, is also available for pre-order and will be available on-shelf in the U.S. on May 26 for $129.
The Google Health app will begin rolling out as an update to the existing Fitbit app on May 19.
THE LARGER TREND
Google recently announced
updates to its Gemini AI
offering with a "one-touch" interface that has an immediate connection to a crisis hotline should the AI recognize references to possible suicide or self-harm, and a "Help is available" module that provides connections to care when a conversation signals a user may need mental health support.
During a press briefing about the new Fitbit Air,
MobiHealthNews
asked Google whether these features would also be available via the new Google Health Coach, which uses Gemini.
"The specific mental health 'one touch' interface you mentioned is specific to the Gemini app; however, the same mental health information resources (e.g., hotline, crisis numbers) are available through Google Health app," a Google spokesperson told
MobiHealthNews
in an email.
"We are always looking to add and evolve the offerings over time, and we are working closely with our clinical, engineering and safety experts to continuously improve responses from Gemini."