Spotify Beats Google to Fitness Feature with AI-Powered Running Mode

Google's long-promised connected experience for fitness has been outdone by Spotify. The music streaming service brought its AI-powered Running Mode to Android in August 2026, offering a feature that generates playlists and structures workouts around them.

The feature allows users to choose from 25 running presets, set a duration and target beats per minute for their cadence, and select the music they want using the Prompted Playlist integration. Spotify's Running Mode also provides optional English audio cues to guide users through their workout.

However, the feature has its limitations. It is plan-based, which means it doesn't adjust to a user's actual cadence during the run. The soundtrack is built around the tempo chosen before the workout, and catalog matching can get shaky if users ask for niche genres at specific tempos.

Google owns all the necessary assets to create a better running coach, including Android, YouTube Music, Health Connect, and Google Health app. However, it appears that getting multiple divisions to agree on a roadmap is a challenge, as evidenced by Spotify's early move into this space.