I received’t lie; my important focus throughout Google’s Pixel occasion on Wednesday was the Pixel 8 sequence. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro might be more expensive than earlier than, however they’re nice gadgets, contemplating Google is able to provide you with seven years of updates, together with Android OS releases and have drops. That mentioned, the Pixel Watch 2 segment caught this longtime iPhone consumer’s consideration due to a brand new generative AI well being function coming quickly to Pixel gadgets.
Through the Pixel Watch 2 phase, Google showcased a brand new function for the Fitbit app that I’d love to have the ability to use inside my iPhone’s Well being or Health app. It’s a function that Apple will hopefully copy sooner relatively than later. Come subsequent yr, Fitbit will allow you to ask questions on your newest coaching session, and it’ll use AI to supply extra perception into your progress.
Coaching with ChatGPT is just the start
I already confirmed you how I used ChatGPT to train for a half-marathon and the way generative AI has been extra useful than I might have imagined. ChatGPT took only some seconds to supply me a coaching plan spanning about six months, full with meal ideas, achievable targets, and extra race recommendation.
I saved asking ChatGPT for extra data every time I considered one thing else or needed to tweak it.
That’s simply an instance of how unbelievable generative AI might be even earlier than we get to customized AI experiences. Throughout yesterday’s occasion, Google demoed a few examples of the future of personal AI, together with one that may apply on to my operating wants.
Google’s private AI will take coaching to an entire new stage
Within the close to future, you’ll be capable of ask Google’s private AI assistant within the Fitbit app questions equivalent to why your most up-to-date run felt tougher than regular.
The AI answered instantly, giving believable explanations. For instance, the route the runner selected might need had extra climbing segments than earlier than. Additionally, their sleep high quality was trending down earlier than the run.
Not solely that, however the AI additionally supplied a graph to indicate the stats for the latest runs.
That’s an unbelievable use of AI to enhance well being and train with out hiring an precise coach. You solely want a smartwatch (the Pixel Watch 2) and a telephone (like a Pixel 8) to do it. The function received’t be obtainable in beta till subsequent yr, nevertheless.
I wouldn’t be stunned if Google discovered a strategy to allow it on Fitbit gadgets and older Pixels. In spite of everything, this feels like one thing older gadgets ought to be capable of deal with until the non-public AI processes all the info on the gadget relatively than sending it to Google’s servers.
Why I need Apple to repeat the Fitbit AI options
I’m an iPhone consumer, which suggests the wearable I take advantage of is an Apple Watch. I might go along with a Fitbit gadget, and I’m positive Google will need to lengthen the generative AI options of the Fitbit app to iOS identical to it’s doing with its Google Assistant with Bard.
However I’d need such generative AI conversations to happen on the iPhone utilizing information the Apple Watch information. These are the gadgets I take advantage of, because the Apple ecosystem does extra for me than the rest.
Then there’s the privateness facet. Keep in mind that I hold making a degree about generative AI merchandise not having sufficient privateness protections in place. Apple might repair that.
With the instance Google supplied, the AI assistant would have entry to loads of private information. We’re train historical past data, location information associated to these runs, and sleep-tracking historical past.
There’s additionally the matter of processing that data. If it occurs on a tool, I wouldn’t fear about that information being shared with anybody else. But when the info hits Google’s server, then that’s an issue.
Google has but to handle the privateness implications of such a private AI assistant. And that’s one thing that Apple would do first when unveiling such superior AI options.
On that notice, I’ll add that Google by no means used the phrase “privateness” throughout its Made by Google occasion. That’s hardly shocking contemplating all of the generative AI improvements it showcased.
With all that in thoughts, I’m wanting ahead to Apple implementing comparable AI options in iOS and watchOS within the close to future. Hopefully, it received’t take too lengthy to see such customized AI options from Apple merchandise.
