Google is expanding the data available to its AI-powered health coaching tools through a new partnership with Abbott.
Under a multiyear agreement, data from Abbott’s Lingo continuous glucose monitoring system will be integrated into the Google Health app. The connection will allow users to view glucose trends alongside information such as physical activity, sleep, and other wellness measurements.
Google’s Gemini-powered Health Coach will be able to use Lingo glucose data alongside other personal health information to generate guidance around areas including nutrition, exercise, sleep, and recovery.
Connecting glucose data with AI coaching
Lingo is an over-the-counter continuous glucose monitoring system designed for adults aged 18 and older who do not use insulin.
The wearable tracks glucose levels throughout the day and sends readings to the Lingo smartphone application. Users can then see how factors such as meals, exercise, and daily activity correspond with changes in their glucose levels.
By connecting this information with Google Health Coach, Google is moving toward a more comprehensive view of personal wellness data.
Instead of analyzing glucose measurements independently, the AI system will be able to consider them alongside other information available through the Google Health ecosystem.
Google Health Coach requires a Google Health Premium subscription. The company also emphasizes that the service is not intended for medical purposes and warns that AI-generated responses may be incomplete or inaccurate.
How Abbott’s Lingo system works
Lingo measures glucose in interstitial fluid rather than directly measuring glucose in the bloodstream.
The sensor is inserted beneath the skin on the back of the upper arm and uses an electrochemical process to measure glucose. Measurements are transmitted to the Lingo application using Bluetooth Low Energy.
According to FDA documentation, the system can display real-time glucose measurements, trend information, and glucose graphs. The sensor can be worn for up to 14 days.
Unlike some glucose monitoring systems designed for diabetes management, Lingo does not provide glucose or system alerts through its application.
The technology is based on the sensor technology used in Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre platform, although the products have different intended uses.
Abbott introduced Lingo in the US as a non-prescription product for adults who do not use insulin. The system is also available in the UK.
A broader picture of personal health
The glucose integration builds on Google’s efforts to bring more health information into a single environment.
The Google Health app can receive information from compatible wearables and third-party applications through services such as Health Connect, Apple Health, and Google Health APIs.
Users can also connect medical information, including laboratory results, vital signs, and medication data, and make that information available to the AI health coach.
This gives Gemini access to a wider range of information that can be used to personalize health-related responses.
Google says users can control which information they save, enable or disable optional features, export their data, and delete it. The company also states that Google Health data is not used for Google Ads.
AI guidance comes with limitations
Despite the growing amount of data available to Health Coach, Google maintains that the system should not be treated as a medical service.
That distinction is particularly important when AI systems process physiological measurements. Glucose readings can vary throughout the day and can be influenced by factors including food, exercise, sleep, and other conditions.
Google therefore advises users to verify AI-generated responses and consult healthcare professionals when appropriate.
FDA documentation for Lingo similarly states that users should not make medical decisions based on its readings without consulting a qualified healthcare professional.
The integration is intended to provide users with additional context rather than replace professional medical advice.
Google and Abbott plan a real-world study
The partnership also extends beyond integrating existing products.
Abbott and Google are planning a large real-world study focused on metabolic health. The research will combine continuous glucose measurements with wearable data, laboratory information, and survey responses.
The goal is to examine relationships between glucose patterns and factors such as physical activity, sleep, and overall wellbeing.
The companies say findings from the study could help improve Google Health Coach and contribute to future Lingo features.
Gemini’s expanding role in healthcare
The Abbott partnership is part of a broader expansion of Gemini into health-related applications.
Google has been connecting the AI system with increasingly diverse sources of personal health information, while third-party services are also beginning to integrate with Gemini.
For example, Zocdoc has introduced a connected experience that allows users in the US to search for healthcare appointments and book providers through the Gemini app.
Together, these developments point toward an AI health ecosystem that can combine information from wearables, medical records, glucose monitors, and other digital health services.
The challenge will be ensuring that these systems remain accurate, transparent, and appropriately limited as they begin processing increasingly sensitive health information.
For Google, integrating Abbott’s continuous glucose data represents another step toward making Gemini a more context-aware health assistant, while also highlighting the need for clear boundaries between AI-generated wellness guidance and professional medical care.
Source: https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/news/google-ai-health-coach-abbott-glucose-data/
