Google’s Fitbit App Faces Backlash as Users Criticize New AI Features
Google has recently rolled out a new Google Health app, effectively replacing the beloved Fitbit health app. This new version is missing many of the features users loved, is reportedly riddled with bugs, and is packed with AI functionalities. Understandably, many longtime Fitbit users are frustrated and have taken to the app store to voice their displeasure, leaving a wave of negative reviews as Google attempts to address the backlash with a roadmap for improvements.
On May 26, after months of beta testing, Google officially retired the old Fitbit app, which allowed users to track and log various health metrics. While this transition had been in the works for nearly a year, it caught many casual users off guard when the update went live, replacing the familiar Fitbit interface with the more clinical Google Health app. The reaction was swift and negative, as users expressed their dissatisfaction through a flood of one-star reviews on the Google Play Store.
Many of these reviews highlight issues with inaccurate sleep and workout tracking—two key features that made the original Fitbit app popular among users. Others have pointed out problems like errors, a confusing layout that obscures important information, missing features, and the intrusive AI integration. One review succinctly captured the frustration: “Why is the biggest button on the screen for AI questions? You’re a fitness app; the biggest button should be to add an activity. Stay in that lane.”
One user, who woke up to unsolicited AI-generated sleep summaries, has decided to cancel her subscription and search for an alternative app. She’s not alone; numerous one-star reviews indicate that many users are ready to abandon Google Health/Fitbit for other options.
As of May 27, there’s no option to revert to the old app, and Google appears unwilling to restore the original Fitbit experience. It’s a disappointing turn for a once-popular brand, which has seemingly transformed into something users dislike in under five years.
In response to the outcry, Google has shared a roadmap for the new Google Health app, promising to address the various issues and bugs reported by users. It’s puzzling that Google didn’t take user feedback into account during the year-long testing phase and is only now scrambling to make improvements. But this is the reality of big tech in 2026.
The focus has shifted away from creating innovative apps and useful devices to a relentless cycle of rebranding existing products while cramming in more AI features, ads, and paywalls. The goal seems to be to appease shareholders rather than genuinely enhance user experience.
There was a time when tech companies thrived by solving real problems and delighting their customers with new offerings. Those days seem to be behind us. Welcome to the age of AI-driven mediocrity, where if you’re not satisfied, tough luck—everything is owned by the big players now.
