Review says Google’s $99 Fitbit Air is a cautious AI health tracker

In short: A review from The Verge says Google’s new $99 Fitbit Air is a comfortable fitness tracker with an optional AI health coach, but the software still has issues.

What happened

The Verge reviewed the Google Fitbit Air, a screenless fitness tracker that costs $99. The reviewer said the device is extremely lightweight and comfortable, and it has strong battery life.

The Fitbit Air works with Google’s “Health Coach,” an AI coach that gives suggestions based on your data. AI means software that tries to spot patterns and respond in a human-like way, like a very talkative spreadsheet. In the review, the coach warned about poor sleep, low “readiness” (how prepared your body seems for exercise), and time spent in hot and humid weather, and it suggested changing workouts and focusing on hydration.

The review also points out limits. The reviewer said AI health coaching still needs “handholding,” meaning you may need to correct it or give extra context to get useful results. The Verge also said the Google Health app has “kinks to work out,” which suggests the experience is not always smooth.

One notable change mentioned in the review is that regular tracking data is no longer locked behind a paywall for people who do not want AI coaching. A paywall is like a subscription gate that blocks features unless you pay.

Why it matters

Fitness trackers are starting to act more like personal coaches, not just step counters. For everyday users, that can be helpful, but it also raises a practical question, can you trust the advice enough to act on it, especially when the app still feels unfinished.

Source: The Verge AI