Healthify, a startup backed by Khosla Ventures, has launched a major upgrade to its AI-powered health assistant, Ria. The new version features live conversational capabilities through voice and camera input, marking a shift toward more intuitive and engaging health tracking. This move reflects a broader trend: health tech companies are increasingly leveraging AI to bridge the gap between structured data (like fitness tracker stats) and unstructured input (like describing meals) to drive better user engagement.
Real-Time Interaction and Multilingual Support
The updated Ria utilizes OpenAI’s technology to enable real-time conversations in over 50 languages, including 14 Indian languages. It even supports mixed-language input like “Hinglish” or “Spanglish,” catering to diverse user preferences. Users can now ask for health overviews, log meals by describing them, or generate exercise plans—all through natural conversation. The ability to use a device’s camera to identify food items and log their nutritional value mirrors Google Gemini’s Live Conversation mode.
Expanding Use Cases: Beyond Personal Tracking
Healthify envisions Ria as more than just a personal assistant. The company plans to integrate it into user onboarding to gather more insights from casual conversations. This approach is similar to how dating apps use conversational interfaces to refine user matching. Additionally, Ria can now assist coaches and nutritionists by transcribing calls and providing real-time data access, enhancing remote consultation efficiency.
Long-Term Memory and Data Aggregation
To improve personalization, Healthify is building a persistent memory layer on top of OpenAI’s models. This will allow Ria to retain long-term context regarding user preferences and health changes. The company also aims to aggregate data from various platforms, including fitness trackers, sleep monitors, and glucose sensors, to provide more holistic insights.
Competitive Advantage and Future Plans
Healthify competes with apps like Alma, Cal AI, MyFitnessPal, and Ladder in the AI-powered health space. However, the company believes its live conversation mode, combined with years of training data from coach-user interactions, gives it an edge. A new $20/month AI plan is launching in the U.S., including meal planning and access to the updated Ria assistant. Healthify is also exploring partnerships around GLP-1-aided weight loss programs and integration with health tracking device companies.
According to CEO Tushar Vashisht, the team has trained Ria on years of conversational data between coaches and users to give grounded and accurate advice.
The company may seek new funding soon, citing strong adoption in the U.S. and continued growth. Healthify’s strategy reflects a broader industry shift toward making health tracking more seamless and personalized through advanced AI integration.
