As a data engineer, I've had the opportunity to test the Fitbit Air, a wearable device that takes a unique approach to AI-powered health tracking. The device itself is a basic tracker with great battery life, lightweight design, and comprehensive health metrics. However, the real story is about the software and how Google's AI coach is integrated into the experience. The AI coach provides personalized health insights and suggestions based on your data, but it requires a significant amount of effort to get the best results. You need to front-load the experience with detailed information about your health, goals, and medical context. The coach can be useful, but it's not perfect and has quirks, such as reverting to older data and forgetting previous conversations. The Fitbit Air's strength lies in its ability to offer two different software experiences: a basic fitness tracker and an AI-powered health coach. You can choose to ignore the AI chatbot and use the device as a simple tracker, or you can opt-in to the premium subscription and utilize the coach's features. Google Health is a work in progress, but the Air is a savvy wearable that balances simplicity with advanced health tech software. With an affordable price point and the option to ignore the AI chatbot, the Fitbit Air can appeal to both AI enthusiasts and skeptics. The device requires several agreements and permissions to use, including the phone's terms of service, privacy policy, and optional permissions for location, Bluetooth, and camera access. However, Google's acquisition of Fitbit ensures that health data is stored separately and not used for targeted ads.

Source: The Verge