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Google Health Coach seems to think I’m on the verge of physical collapse. My sleep is not where it needs to be, hence my unimpressive readiness score. My heart rate variability, a measure of how recovered I am, is below baseline. I’m spending too much time in a hot, humid environment, it says, reminding me temperatures are creeping above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. According to Google’s AI coach, I should skip my planned strength workouts. My number one job is to hydrate, stay out of the heat, and try to squeeze in some steps. Also — are my calves feeling any strain? How am I feeling about this assessment?

Mixed, honestly. As it turns out, that’s an accurate summation of how I’ve felt the past month testing the $99 Fitbit Air. If we were only talking about the hardware, I’d have a single complaint — my “lavender” device is actually periwinkle. (I have an unhinged Vergecast clip that proves I’m right, too.) But this isn’t a hardware story. It’s a story about software and how AI is taking over consumer healthcare.

Great battery lifeExtremely lightweight and comfyIf you hate AI coaches, regular tracking data is no longer paywalledThe AI coach, used properly, can be usefulAffordable at

Google Health app has kinks to work outAI health coaches require a ton of handholding to get the best resultsThe “lavender” color is periwinkle

As a basic tracker, the Air is exactly what Fitbit has historically done best. I rarely feel it on my wrist. It lasts a long time and charges quickly. While covering WWDC, I got a notification from the Air that I was down to 20 percent battery. I plopped it on the charger for the 45 minutes or so it took me to get ready, and I was back up to 85 percent. I haven’t had to think about it since. In the month or so since I booted up the Air, I’ve only charged it three times. I wish this didn’t require another proprietary charger, but this has always been an issue with fitness bands.