With watchOS 26, Apple is introducing Workout Buddy, a new AI-powered fitness feature that brings real-time, personalized coaching to Apple Watch for the first time. It is part of Apple Intelligence, but instead of showcasing flashy demos, Apple is using generative AI in a way that feels practical by turning your workouts into smarter and more motivational experiences.
Workout Buddy is designed to act like a virtual coach, offering spoken guidance and encouragement before, during, and after a workout. As soon as you hit start, you’ll hear a short pep talk based on your recent fitness history. It might remind you that you’ve worked out three times this week or that you are close to hitting a personal milestone. During your session, it delivers updates that feel conversational rather than robotic. Instead of simply listing stats, it tells you what they mean and why they matter.
The feature uses on-device AI to generate insights in real time, pulling from your workout history, trends, and other fitness data. You might hear feedback like “That was your fastest 5K yet” or “You’ve closed all your rings this week.” After the workout, the Walk Off phase gives you a quick spoken summary that helps put your performance in context. The goal is to make the data feel more personal and actionable.
Workout Buddy supports several types of workouts at launch, including running, walking, cycling, HIIT, and strength training. You can choose which activities it applies to, and the voice coaching is available in English for now. There are two voice options based on Apple Fitness+ trainers Sam Sanchez and Jamie Ray. Apple used generative AI to recreate not only their voices but also their tone and delivery, creating a coaching experience that sounds natural and familiar.
One limitation is that Workout Buddy requires your iPhone to be nearby. The Apple Watch alone does not yet have the power to run Apple Intelligence, so the processing happens on the phone over Bluetooth. If you usually work out without your phone, this could be a drawback. Still, it is an early step in what looks like a larger move toward smarter, more personalized fitness tools.
Workout Buddy will be available later this year when watchOS 26 is released to the public.
