Experienced 15-mile run guided by Apple Watch's latest Workout Buddy - personal assessment offered below
Apple's Workout Buddy: A Promising Step Forward in AI-Powered Fitness
Apple's latest offering, Workout Buddy, is an AI-driven fitness coach that aims to revolutionize the way you exercise. This feature, introduced in the watchOS 26 beta, provides personalized voice feedback during workouts based on your historic exercise data.
During testing, the author found Workout Buddy to be an intuitive and engaging companion during runs. It offers real-time updates on miles run, average pace, heart rate, and what you're listening to. However, during a custom workout, the feature seemed to fall short of expectations, with normal reminders instead of the motivational messages promised.
Apple's ambition for Workout Buddy is clear. The feature is designed to become a standalone entity on the watch, freeing users from the need for an iPhone nearby. Future iterations could also bring more nuanced, contextual AI-driven coaching feedback, expanded workout types and customization options, and deeper fitness analytics akin to those offered by competitors like Garmin.
The author also hopes to see Workout Buddy get smarter over time, remembering past runs and providing comparisons. They also suggest the feature could prevent overtraining and potential injuries, provide alerts about upcoming hills or current performance during runs, and offer different AI personalities to subscribe to, similar to Oura.
While Workout Buddy may not yet replace the expertise of real-life coaches, it is a promising step forward in AI-powered fitness. The feature's integration with Apple Fitness+ content and Apple Music, and its focus on privacy and personalization, set it apart from competitors like Garmin and Peloton.
As Apple continues to refine Workout Buddy, it's clear that the company is aiming to evolve it into a comprehensive AI workout assistant that combines data-driven guidance, motivational coaching, and a personalized experience. With its potential to expand beyond voice coaching to deeper fitness insights and adaptive training plans, Workout Buddy could truly revolutionize the way we approach fitness.
The author ran for 15 miles with Workout Buddy during testing, and found it to be a hint of what's to come - Apple using the expertise of its Fitness+ Coaches and blending this into the Workout app. However, it's worth noting that the Beta version of watchOS 26 may hold features back for the potential release of new watches this fall.
In conclusion, Workout Buddy is a promising new feature from Apple that, while not yet perfect, shows great potential. With its focus on AI-driven coaching, personalization, and integration with Apple's broader fitness ecosystem, it's clear that Apple is aiming to create a comprehensive fitness assistant that can adapt to each user's unique needs.
Workout Buddy's potential expansion could include integrating smartphones, allowing users to receive motivational messages and adaptive training plans on the go. Future updates to the feature might also incorporate advanced AI capabilities, enabling it to recommend suitable gadgets or accessories for optimized workouts based on personal preferences and fitness goals.
