🔗 Share this article

A runner

Following a festive period packed with indulgent treats and downtime, numerous individuals enter the new year aiming to regain their fitness momentum.

But, is it possible that Artificial Intelligence be changing the world of exercise by offering an alternative to human coaches?

Tailored Programs and Flexible Schedules

Leah Walsh used an artificial intelligence application for last-minute training for the a major running event.

The 21-year-old from Aberdare said she liked the liberty to pose queries any time of day – a feature she felt was unavailable with a personal trainer.

Leah relied on an AI-driven fitness application that provided her customized schedules with voice guidance and pace setting for her first long-distance race in 2024.

She said she requested it to design a plan combining running and the gym, and it generated an 11-week plan tailored to her race date and goals.

Leah then adjusted the schedule to suit her daily routine, which she described was highly practical.

The following year, she opted for a alternative application because it was more affordable and she could ask it questions at any time. She finished a minute faster than her goal time.

She noted she wanted to avoid the pressure from a live instructor.

"Using AI you have to motivate yourself, which I quite like," she remarked.

Richard Gallimore

Remarkable Strength Improvements

In a similar case, Another individual, 23, from Swansea, has been employing artificial intelligence for his fitness and diet plans, and reported he has never felt stronger, boosting his chest press from 70kg to a much heavier load.

He turned to a AI assistant for help after being forced to walk a running event.

"I realized I had to sort myself out," he said.

The free tool constructed a fitness and meal program tailored to his aims, and created structured routines.

"I train for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a real difference," he said.

The Expense Comparison: Technology vs. Traditional Training

A recent study in the previous year analyzed costs for 17 of the biggest gym brands and found the typical monthly fee was approximately forty pounds a month, for standard full-access plans.

Fees started at a lower price at the most affordable chain to a premium rate at the most expensive.

Based on industry research, fitness coaches set their own rates, usually a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per hour-long appointment outside London and about a similar range in London.

Customers typically use a coach one or two times a week and work with them for a few months, but these agreements are often adaptable.

A personal trainer

The Irreplaceable Human Touch

Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, based in Cardiff, acknowledged AI can be useful to accelerate results, but believes it will not supplant the human connection and accountability that in-person coaching offers.

This expert, who has over a decade of experience as a trainer, focuses on older adults and injury rehabilitation. He mentioned some of his trainees also employ AI.

"I think it's very valuable, additional information is positive," he said.

"I think the more people are online the more they'll want personal contact because they want the empathy from the comprehension that is absent from a machine," he added.

Dafydd explained Artificial intelligence can educate users and make coaching more efficient.

However, he argued real commitment comes when people show up physically for their sessions.

"As useful as it is at 2am, a digital tool won't keep you accountable at early morning before work," he added.

In the view of many, he suggested, the gym is a place to disconnect from devices and take a break from technology.