Apple Watch Gets Smarter Coaching with New AI-Powered Fitness Companion in watchOS 26

In a move that blends artificial intelligence with personal fitness, Apple has introduced a new feature called Workout Buddy, designed to transform how users approach exercise with the Apple Watch. Announced during the WWDC 2025 keynote, the feature adds real-time, AI-generated coaching directly to workouts — marking the first major infusion of Apple Intelligence into the world of fitness.

Unlike traditional guided workouts, Workout Buddy dynamically analyzes your live performance — including pace, heart rate, distance, and previous trends — and responds with personalized encouragement or feedback during your session. Whether you're running your usual route or pushing through a tough HIIT round, the system adapts to your behavior on the fly.

Rather than relying on robotic voiceovers or generic prompts, Workout Buddy taps into voice models created using Fitness+ trainers. Apple has trained a custom text-to-speech system to deliver insights in familiar, energetic voices, so it feels like your favorite trainer is in your ear — but smarter. These voices offer more than just motivation; they provide contextual tips based on your current metrics, such as adjusting effort during intervals or pacing guidance for endurance.

This personalized coaching is entirely processed on-device, keeping fitness data private and eliminating the need for cloud-based processing. The feature requires an iPhone nearby that supports Apple Intelligence and Bluetooth headphones to deliver the coaching audio clearly during workouts.

Workout Buddy will launch with support for several of the most common exercise categories, including both indoor and outdoor runs and walks, cycling, strength training, and high-intensity intervals. Apple has indicated that more workout types and languages will be supported in future updates.

As Apple continues to thread intelligence into its devices, Workout Buddy sets a new precedent for how the Apple Watch can serve not just as a tracker, but as a responsive, AI-powered fitness coach. The feature will roll out with iOS 26 and watchOS 26 later this fall, with beta access beginning immediately for developers and early testers.