Garmin recently launched Connect+, a new subscription service priced at USD $6.99 per month that includes AI-powered insights among its premium features. However, early user experiences suggest the Active Intelligence component may not be delivering the value many customers expected, especially given the already high cost of Garmin's wearable devices.
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| Garmin's Active Intelligence notification displayed on a smartphone illustrates the service's AI-powered insights |
The Limited Scope of Garmin's AI Implementation
The AI insights feature, still labeled as being in beta, appears in just one location within the Garmin Connect app—the home screen. Unlike competitors such as Whoop or Oura that offer interactive chat interfaces where users can ask questions about their data, Garmin's implementation is strictly one-way communication. The insights don't appear on users' watches or as phone notifications, meaning they're easy to miss entirely if you don't frequently check the app.
Questionable Value in AI-Generated Content
After a week of usage, users report that the insights provided are remarkably basic, often simply reformulating data that's already visible elsewhere in the app. Common topics include intensity minutes, stress levels, Body Battery readings, step counts, and activity summaries. Most insights conclude with generic encouragement like keep up the good work rather than providing truly personalized guidance or actionable recommendations.
Mathematical Errors Undermining Credibility
Perhaps most concerning are the mathematical errors that have been spotted in the AI's outputs. One user reported the AI claiming they had spent one hour and twenty-seven minutes on activities that actually totaled just 43 minutes. Even more egregious, scuba divers have received insights stating they spent 41 days and 6 hours underwater in a single day, or that they dove to depths of 1.05 miles when their actual maximum depth was 61 feet.
Pre-canned Responses Rather Than True AI
Industry observers have questioned whether Garmin's Active Intelligence truly leverages AI technology in a meaningful way. Some users have noted receiving identical insights with only their personal numbers changed, suggesting the system relies heavily on templates rather than genuine machine learning. One blogger described it as Grammarly for Garmin, implying it's merely dressing up basic data in complete sentences.
User Disappointment and Missed Opportunities
The Reddit and Garmin forum communities have expressed significant disappointment with the feature. Many users had hoped for more sophisticated capabilities, such as a chatbot interface for discussing training, AI-generated workout plans, or analysis identifying which types of workouts correlate with fitness improvements for individual users. Instead, they've received basic summaries telling them things like as the day goes on, you feel more tired or calculating how many steps remain to reach their daily goal.
Connect+ Beyond the AI
While Active Intelligence has drawn criticism, Connect+ does include other features that might provide more value, such as Live Activities. However, the overall reception to the subscription service has been negative, particularly given that Garmin devices already command premium prices. Many users feel the USD $6.99 monthly fee isn't justified by the current feature set.
Future Potential
Garmin has emphasized that the AI feature is still in beta and will improve over time. However, given the fundamental limitations observed in the current implementation, it remains unclear how the service could evolve into something users would consider worth paying for without a significant redesign of its approach to AI integration and data analysis.