Google to overhaul Health app interface and AI features following Fitbit migration backlash
The tech giant is introducing enhanced customisation tools, new sleep and step metrics, and adjustments to its AI coach after the recent replacement of the Fitbit application drew significant criticism.
Google has announced a series of updates to its Google Health app, designed to address widespread user dissatisfaction following the application's recent replacement of the Fitbit platform. The changes, which are scheduled to roll out starting in late May 2026, target the primary pain points identified by users, including interface rigidity and the presentation of automated health insights.
A central focus of the update is the improvement of dashboard customisation. Previously, the 'Today' dashboard was restricted to displaying chosen health metrics only in the top half of the screen. The upcoming release will allow users to more easily rearrange, add, or remove metrics across both the 'Today' and 'Health' dashboards, providing greater control over how data is visualised.
The update also introduces several new tracking capabilities. Users will gain access to custom food viewing, creation, and logging functions, addressing requests for more flexible dietary tracking. Additionally, the 'Today' and 'Health' tabs will now feature charts for hourly step goals, and a new 24-hour total sleep overview will be implemented to cover both main sleep periods and naps.
Significant attention is being paid to the app’s AI coach feature, which has proven to be a divisive element of the new interface. While some users, including The Verge’s David Pierce, have found the automated advice useful, others have expressed frustration, with critics describing the need to scroll through extensive text blocks as "AI slop" when attempting to view basic health data.
Google confirmed that adjustments are being made to the presentation of AI-generated insights within the Today tab to mitigate these concerns. Although the specific timeline for the AI coach refinements was not detailed beyond a general "coming soon" statement, the broader suite of interface and feature updates marks a direct response to the feedback received since the Fitbit app was discontinued.
