AI in Fitness: Could Your Future Workout Partner Be a Robot?

Once upon a time, AI was limited to the realm of science fiction. It is now part of our reality. Between text-generating bots, ChatGPT, Google\’s Bard, and others popping up nearly every week, AI is having a moment. And it\’s making waves in just about every industry you could name.

AI technology isn\’t particularly new to the fitness world. It\’s used in smart watches, smart mirrors (like Lululemon Studio Mirror), smart home gyms (like Tonal and Tempo Studio), and even Peloton. Apple is expanding its AI capabilities through Apple Watch software, allowing users to get advice on nutrition, sleep or exercise. Fitness equipment companies have spawned software to help users track their reps, speed, the weight they\’re lifting, and even form in some cases.

AI and fitness seem to have a perfect marriage.

With rapid advances in automated technology, the question is whether AI could eventually replace personal trainers and group fitness programs. I spoke to various fitness experts to better understand how AI has impacted the fitness industry, its benefits, what\’s missing, and what to expect in the future.

My experience with AI

As someone who tests fitness equipment for a living, I\’ve had my share of experience with AI and watched how it has evolved. I\’ve seen how platforms, like the JRNY app, have added AI components like motion tracking, which can be used with Bowflex adjustable handlebars. Peloton has also updated its AI feature on the Peloton Guide, a home strength training system that uses a smart camera to track your movements (I pointed out in my review when it was released that it could be improved).

Fitness apps are adapting AI technology to create a more personalized experience, making it easier to work out anywhere and offering a personalized workout feel. In some cases, a subscription app or platform can be more cost-effective than joining a gym or hiring an in-person trainer.

I have also experimented with ChatGPT in fitness training. Curious to see how he would curate a custom workout, I was amazed at how easily he generated a three-day workout plan for beginners, separating it into full-body, upper-body, cardio, and rest days. As for the programming, the warm-up was mainly based on light cardio (jumping jacks) and did not include mobility or stretching to start or finish the workouts. There was also a lack of rest time between sets, which is important for getting the most out of a full workout.

For the most part, ChatGPT seems to know its limitations. When I asked him about creating a prenatal training program, he replied, \”Before starting any prenatal training program, it\’s important to consult your doctor to make sure it\’s safe for you and your baby.\”

ChatGPT went on to give an example of what a prenatal workout could look like with warming up, strengthening, cardio and stretching. In this type of scenario, it\’s helpful to have the program run by a certified personal trainer to confirm that it makes sense for your fitness level and routine.

Pros of artificial intelligence in fitness

\”The best benefit of AI in fitness is the ability to adjust training programs on a daily basis to account for external factors: stress, tension, sleep, recovery and readiness level,\” said Amanda Capritto, a leading personal trainer certified by the Garage Gyms expert group.

Rishi Mandal, co-founder and CEO of Future, a personal training app, says one of AI\’s greatest tools is data collection.

“AI is really helping with accurate data collection, like rep counting, form correction, and most notably using biometrics to monitor if you\’re hitting a lower heart rate doing the same workout. \” As a result, AI is trusted to track your fitness habits and adjust them based on your daily needs.

This is what sets AI apart from a regular fitness app you download to your phone.

“Apps have historically taken more of a walled garden approach than the open source approach, which could be limiting in a world where data is key to unlocking the power of AI,” explains the CEO and co-founder of the Caliber app, Jared Cluff. The AI ​​has the ability to create a personalized workout complete with sets and reps, as well as determine your fitness level to help you reach your goals. Cluff expects the AI ​​software to improve over time and become a reliable way for users to create an exercise program on their own.

“AI is also starting to have more options available for fitness assessment and tracking,” says Capritto. For example, AI products like Perch use 3D cameras that you can attach to a squat rack to measure the speed of a barbell when it\’s in use. “Then they use this information to provide feedback on your form,” he explains. There are other accessories like Rep One and Push band which are also used for speed based training. This type of tracking can help athletes who want to monitor their form in lifting exercises or other factors related to their performance.

Other platforms, like the Juggernaut AI app, can function as a powerlifting coach and create a program to improve your lifts. These programs are ideal if you want the personal trainer experience without having to hire one. However, keep in mind that similar to AI fitness accessories, AI programs can only do so much.

“For most people, and certainly the vast majority of customers we see at Caliber, the value of a trainer goes far beyond the tactical role they play, and is much more about the motivational role they play, which will not be commodified by \’AI soon,\” explains Cluff.

Indeed, AI can serve as a useful tool for trainers to better assist their clients.

“Technology is at the point where it can give trainers tools that we\’ve never had before,” Capritto explains. “Building training programs and providing feedback with more personalized detail is at the forefront of what AI can do for trainers, instructors and coaches.”

Cuff agrees. Top trainers who already excel at having strong relationships with their clients will find AI beneficial as it will help them spend less time on the more mundane parts of their job.

Mandal says the Future app uses AI on the backend to enhance the ideas and insights coaches have at their fingertips.

\”When a client says they\’re looking for exercises that can be done in their hotel room and hit a specific muscle group, our trainers can look up what regimens we\’ve been given previously to other clients looking for in-room workouts, and then coaches can weave the exercise they like into the larger workouts they\’re creating.\”

I can attest to that. I have been using Future since the beginning of my pregnancy and my trainer has been a great resource in developing an appropriate program for each trimester. It\’s a classic example of how trainers can use AI to their advantage when working with clients.

Cons of artificial intelligence in fitness

As with any new technology, there are some downsides. For one thing, AI doesn\’t have the human connection that comes with working with a coach or group fitness instructor.

\”As much as AI can get to know someone based on their inputs, it can\’t replace human touch or understand anything about a person other than their physical body and performance,\” says Capritto.

Clients benefit from a human-to-human connection: they can discuss stress levels, problems at work or at home, and energy levels, which can help the trainer adjust a workout if needed. The same is true during injury rehabilitation. Good trainers evaluate progress and determine if clients are ready to take on new challenges or if they should take things slow.

Cluff points out that AI is still capable of producing inaccurate content or analytics. \”In fitness, as in healthcare, quality is of paramount importance, so there\’s work to be done here,\” he said.

The future of AI in fitness

In the case of fitness, AI has the potential to be a great asset for personal trainers. Mandal predicts that AI will dramatically change the look of fitness equipment: For example, we could see multi-modal workout machines that allow us to perform new exercises in new ways. He also believes AI will help people understand their personal data, for example by learning how heart rate changes during various activities.

Cluff believes AI will play a big role in how we access expert guidance, but he\’s not convinced it will replace your personal trainer.

\”Research has shown that the single most effective way to effect adult behavior change is to have a human accountability partner,\” she says. This includes having a gym buddy, taking a group fitness class, or even having a personal trainer. Cluff\’s philosophy is that people are accountable to people, not technology.

\”So as long as people are struggling with behavior change, humans aren\’t going anywhere anytime soon,\” she says.

Don\’t be surprised if you also see various fitness apps experimenting with AI for the sake of popularity. “I predict that a number of applications of artificial intelligence in fitness will hit the market and ultimately fail with consumers,” warns Cluff. He says that if fitness apps plan to use artificial intelligence, they\’ll need to have a deep understanding of the user\’s needs in order to provide them with something of value.

AI is already impacting many industries, including fitness. As AI continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how fitness apps and personal trainers adapt.

Remember that man-made technology is useful, but it can also make mistakes, so it\’s important to approach it with caution. Whenever in doubt, ask an expert or consult with an industry professional before following new advice.

Editor\’s Note: CNET uses an AI engine to create some personal finance explicators that are edited and vetted by our editors. For more information, see this post.