Would you share your medical records with a personal trainer? How about virtual? Google, which this week announced It’s giving Fitbit’s AI Health Coach the ability to read your medical records Hopefully the answer is yes, following rivals like Amazon, OpenAI and Microsoft in betting that users are willing to trade their most sensitive data in exchange for more personalized health advice.
Starting next month in preview, US Fitbit users will be able to link their medical records to the Fitbit app. Google Health Intelligence product management director Florence Thung said in a blog post that medical data — such as lab results, medications and travel history — combined with wearable data, will help Fitbit’s AI-powered health coach provide “safer, more relevant, and more personalized” advice.
“Instead of getting general answers about cholesterol, you can ask, “How can I improve my cholesterol?” The trainer can then summarize your cholesterol labs, highlight notable values and trends, and provide personalized wellness information based on your medical history and wearable data.
Thung said that in the coming months users will be able to “securely share” their records and AI summaries with family or health providers using a link or QR code. Like other health data at Fitbit, Thung said medical records are not used for advertisements and emphasized that users will have control over their data and how it is used, shared or deleted.
In a short disclaimer at the end of the blog, Google said its demonstrations are “illustrative” and that “Fitbit is not intended to use your medical records to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent, or monitor any disease or condition,” urging users to consult a professional “before making changes related to your health.”
Fitbit’s sleep tracking is also getting a boost, with what Google described as “our most significant update yet.” company Said Fitbit’s sleep tracking will now be 15 percent more accurate and better at telling when you’re falling asleep or just trying to sleep. The tracking update will be released in preview “over the next few days,” followed by improvements to sleep scores in the coming weeks.
Fitbit’s effort to integrate medical records with its AI health coach makes it one of the most popular Consumer uses of AI are in health and wellness. This comes as tech, wellness and fitness companies are taking advantage of technology to expand their offerings and bring more detailed information into our lives. For example, wearables companies, such as smart ring-maker Aura and fitness tracker Voop, use dedicated chatbots to personalize advice, and Anthropic and OpenAI both explicitly encourage users to share their data with Cloud and ChatGPS to discuss their health, something that Google, whose Gemini powers Fitbit’s AI coach, has not yet attempted publicly for its chatbots.
