Apple announces Workout Buddy, a first-of-its-kind Apple Intelligence fitness experience
Tom Sykes
Posted On 09/06/2025 
Apple today unveiled Workout Buddy, coming with watchOS 26 later this year—an all-new fitness experience powered by Apple Intelligence. Workout Buddy uses a user’s real-time workout data and personal fitness history to deliver tailored, motivational insights throughout their session. “By analyzing data such as heart rate, pace, distance, Activity rings, personal milestones, and more, Workout Buddy provides support that feels uniquely yours,” says Apple.
As a user begins a run, Workout Buddy might offer a personalized pep talk—highlighting weekly progress or current goals:
“Way to get out for your run this Wednesday morning. You’re 18 minutes away from closing your Exercise ring. So far this week, you’ve logged 6 miles. You’re about to add more.”
Throughout the workout, Workout Buddy can mark meaningful moments like mile splits or new personal records: “Mile four. You picked up the pace and ran that last one in 8 minutes and 28 seconds.” “Hey, check this out. Your total running distance for the year just crossed the 200-mile mark! That’s a lot of running!”
When the workout ends, Workout Buddy recaps the session with personalized stats and encouragement: “Nice work! You went 4.3 miles in just over 38 minutes, with an average pace of 8:58 and heart rate of 128 BPM. That was your longest run in 28 days. What’s next?”
Workout Buddy delivers these insights in real time, using on-device Apple Intelligence to ensure privacy and security. A new text-to-speech model translates insights into a dynamic generative voice, built using voice data from Fitness+ trainers—capturing the right energy, tone, and motivation for your workout.
Workout Buddy will be available on Apple Watch with Bluetooth headphones, such as AirPods, and requires an Apple Intelligence-supported iPhone nearby. It will launch in English and support some of the most popular workout types: Outdoor and Indoor Run, Outdoor and Indoor Walk, Outdoor Cycle, HIIT, and both Functional and Traditional Strength Training.
