🔗 Share this article

A runner

After a holiday period filled with rich foods and downtime, many people enter January aiming to regain their fitness momentum.

However, is it possible that AI be changing the world of exercise by providing an alternative to human coaches?

Personalized Programs and Flexible Schedules

Leah Walsh employed an AI tool for impromptu training for the a major running event.

The 21-year-old hailing from Aberdare said she liked the freedom to ask it questions at all hours – something she believed was not possible with a personal trainer.

Leah used an AI-powered fitness application that provided her customized schedules with audio coaching and speed targets for her inaugural long-distance race in 2024.

She said she asked it to design a plan merging running and the gym, and it produced an 11-week programme tailored to her event day and goals.

Leah then adjusted the schedule to fit her lifestyle, which she said was convenient.

Subsequently, she chose a different tool 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 did not want the pressure from a live instructor.

"Using AI you have to find your own drive, which I quite like," she remarked.

Richard Gallimore

Remarkable Strength Improvements

In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, 23, based in Swansea, has been employing artificial intelligence for his exercise and nutrition programs, and said he has never felt stronger, increasing his bench press from a lower weight to a much heavier load.

He resorted to a AI assistant for help after being forced to walk a race.

"I just knew I had to get myself in shape," he commented.

The free tool built a workout and diet plan tailored to his goals, and established structured routines.

"I work out for about two hours a day and I've seen a noticeable change," he added.

The Cost Contrast: AI vs. Conventional Coaching

A recent survey in the previous year compared prices for numerous of the largest fitness chains and found the typical monthly fee was approximately forty pounds a month, for basic memberships.

Prices started at £23 at the cheapest chain to a premium rate at the most expensive.

According to industry research, personal trainers determine their own fees, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per 45-60 minute appointment outside London and about a similar range in the capital.

Clients will often use a coach one or two times a week and collaborate for a few months, but these arrangements are completely flexible.

Dafydd Judd

The Essential Human Element

Fitness coach Dafydd Judd, from the Welsh capital, said artificial intelligence can be beneficial to speed up progress, but is convinced it will not supplant the human connection and responsibility that in-person coaching provides.

The 37-year-old, who has over a decade of experience as a coach, specialises in older adults and injury rehabilitation. He mentioned some of his trainees also use AI.

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

"I believe the more people are connected digitally the more they'll desire human connection because they crave the empathy from the understanding that is absent from a machine," he added.

The trainer said Artificial intelligence can inform users and make guidance more effective.

But, he argued real commitment comes when people appear in person for their sessions.

"As useful as it is at the middle of the night, a digital tool cannot ensure you show up at early morning before work," he concluded.

For many, he suggested, the gym is a space to disconnect from devices and stop being glued to screens.