i built an AI you text for your health goals, and it live-updates your progress in the Dynamic Island
hey folks! i'm francis, the creator of BodyBuddy.
We launched at the beginning of the year and since have over 200k texts helping nudge people towards better health.
the main experience of BodyBuddy is over text message - you get daily accountability coaching to make better health decisions every day. We have a complimenting app where you hookup healthkit, we track your health, there's a 90 day (human-designed) plan with a different focus each week, and gamification where you take care of your future self like a tamagotchi, and many other features.
for a while i've struggled with how to convey 'all the other stuff' happening. At the same time, one of the most common frustrations users would tell me is that they didn't always know whether BodyBuddy actually logged the meal and what their calories were for the day, without going back to the app to confirm.
in our latest launch your calories, protein, meals, movement, streaks (and a lot more) all show up in the Dynamic Island as you're texting. It gives a home to the side effects and ambient state that was otherwise invisible. it works surprisingly well and i believe is a first-of-its-kind interaction pattern with AI over iMessage (or certainly new to me at least).
The fun part is typically you can't use the Dynamic Island foreground directly but because we are chatting over iMessage and our app is backgrounded, so the island stays live the whole time you're texting.
would love your thoughts, is this something you'd actually use?
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bodybuddy-daily-health-coach/id6756154234
Website: https://bodybuddy.app