Strava announced a slew of new features and overhauled several key existing ones during the keynote at its annual Camp Strava event. Whether you're an avid cyclist, a dedicated skier, or you just love using your best running watch To upload your time to the platform, you won't want to miss out on what's in the store.
Chief among the announcements was Strava's early adoption of artificial intelligence, which we'll delve into in a minute, but it's far from the only new feature: group challenges are getting an overhaul, and the implementation of Fatmaps means you'll see your Favorite routes in beautiful 3D. best running shoes Then hit the road or take the trail.
Below, you can see the full 45-minute keynote, featuring several key members of Strava's leadership team, including Strava's outgoing CEO, Michael Horvath, and a technical presentation by Misha Gopaul, founder of digital mapping service FATMAP.
If you don't want to read the whole thing (after all, you've got runs, rides, swims, and trails to tackle), we've rounded up the most exciting features that should arrive this year.
1. AI route creation
First, Strava is the latest platform to integrate with some kind of artificial intelligence. Gopaul said AI will drive the way people create and choose new routes on apps, though he's not very clear on how or why.
During the keynote, Gopaul said: "Whether you're on the tarmac or the trail, we're updating our route planning this year, powered by AI, to generate real traffic anywhere in the world with just one click"
Gopaul said AI will be used to calculate a user's "best route" based on community data and questions they want to know the answer to, not just the shortest or fastest route. It will tell you the most popular routes, as well as new ones in the same area, because the app remembers the routes you've followed in the past so that it can show you something new every time it can.
There are other considerations: Gopaul highlights Switzerland's ski map, based on the official Swiss map, which also includes areas to avoid when there is an avalanche risk. It's unclear how this all works together, but based on what I've seen on ChatGPT, I'm not sure I'd be willing to risk having the AI guide me into a rockfall. We should know more by the end of the year.
2. 3d flyover map
Gopaul also showed how this digital map would look on Strava, treating the keynote viewer as a lovely 3D mountain flyover. A dedicated, detailed 3D map experience that lets you see your route like never before.
The tech is designed to make routes easier to understand, with more detailed flyover maps letting you actually see the route you're dealing with before you get there, in immersive 3D. This is described as a "local knowledge map" and is automatically updated daily.
The heatmap tells you the most popular routes and the closest ones, so if popular routes change due to weather or season, you'll have the best route in no time. This is actually already available to Strava subscribers in the existing FATMAP app and will be on the Strava platform by the end of 2023.
3. Improved groups and challenges
Strava also overhauled its groups and challenges features, stepping into the void recently vacated by Fitbit, both of which were destroyed. The group is now more open and less leaderboard based; instead it's designed around the community and functions a bit like a facebook event page, where you can post images, videos, new routes and comments in the group, think of it as a hub.
You can choose a route and invite group members to go with you. If they accept, they automatically get the sent route information via Strava, including any images and videos attached to that route in the Strava app.
Routing collections are also a new part of it. Brands, resorts, and individuals can post themed collections of itineraries, such as all your favorite multi-day hikes in any given area. Disgruntled former Best Fitbit users who were replaced by Google killing off their favorite features will likely find a new home here.
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