Can artificial intelligence help you get fit?

Is it possible for artificial intelligence (AI) to assist you in achieving your fitness goals? As many individuals embark on their New Year's resolution to shed some pounds, the question arises whether AI personal trainers can effectively replace human ones. Varan Bhanot, the CEO of AI fitness software company Magic AI, admits to never having set foot in a gym before. He found the environment intimidating, the membership fees exorbitant, and the commute inconvenient.

A few years ago, Mr Bhanot was warned that he needed to lose weight to avoid health complications. He managed to turn his life around with the assistance of a human personal trainer. However, he soon realized that an AI fitness chatbot, accessible from the comfort of one's home, could make a healthy lifestyle more attainable for many. Thus, in 2021, he established Magic AI. The company's flagship product, the Magic Mirror, is a touch-screen mirror that displays a video of an AI-powered trainer in human form. Users input their biometric data upon logging in, and the AI generates a personalized workout regimen, much like a human personal trainer would. The AI trainer communicates with users via loudspeakers and uses cameras to monitor their workout movements, providing immediate feedback and suggestions. As users advance, the AI devises new workout routines.

The application of AI in the global fitness and wellbeing sectors is on the rise. A report estimated the market's worth at $7. 8 billion in 2022, with a projected increase to $35. 6 billion by 2030. The number of fitness apps incorporating AI is growing, with some individuals even resorting to the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT for workout plans. The surge in AI-powered fitness apps indicates that some people feel more at ease interacting with a computer than a human. For others, it's about the convenience of having a fitness coach readily available on their mobile device. However, can AI truly emulate the motivation derived from human interaction? Pilates instructor and physiotherapist Esther Fox doesn't believe so. She asserts that people prefer to communicate with someone they know and trust, and she personally wouldn't opt for AI. According to Ms Fox, the key to achieving results is through human connection. When people feel heard and understood, they are more likely to follow instructions. She emphasizes that health and fitness require a significant amount of emotional intelligence, something that AI cannot replicate.