Google has announced a long-term partnership with NBA star Stephen Curry, who will serve as a “performance advisor” for the company’s hardware, features, and AI services. This collaboration was revealed during the Made by Google event, where Curry’s experience and expertise in athletics are expected to influence Google’s Health, Pixel, and Cloud products.
Curry’s role will primarily involve testing and providing feedback for Fitbit’s new personal health coach, which is a Gemini-based chatbot designed to create customized workout routines and metric targets for users based on their health goals. Google’s press release highlights that Curry will offer insights on coaching methods and philosophies to enhance this feature.
Rick Osterloh, head of Google’s platforms and devices, noted that the partnership has already commenced with Curry and his team collaborating closely with Google’s health experts and product engineers. He emphasized that the combination of Curry’s insights and Google’s AI technology aims to show users how to leverage these products for healthier living.
As part of the agreement, Curry and his team are expected to utilize Google’s hardware portfolio, which includes Pixel phones, watches, and earbuds. Additionally, Curry is integrating AI tools like Google Cloud’s AI Basketball Coach into his training programs for students, purportedly to refine skills such as shooting accuracy.
While it is anticipated that Curry may participate in branded content initiatives, it remains to be seen whether this partnership will lead to significant enhancements in Google’s product offerings based on his guidance.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/762146/google-pixel-stephen-curry-partnership