8 | AI in Fitness: Is Artificial Intelligence the End of Personal Training?

How to: Fitness

In today’s episode we’re debating the question: is artificial intelligence about to take over our jobs? We’re diving into how AI is revolutionizing and also challenging the fitness industry.

3:51: In today’s modern world, AI has proven effective in automating tasks traditionally performed by humans, and we see increasing usage of AI in technology like smartwatches, fitness apps, and smart gyms. The global fitness technology market was valued at $17.9 billion in 2019, and it's projected to reach $62.1 billion by 2025. It's clear that people are increasingly relying on technology to support their fitness journeys.
10:58: According to Forbes, a majority of respondents (72%) found it easier to maintain a regular workout routine during the pandemic and lockdown, even without access to a gym. We talk through the shift towards fitness apps and online fitness in our post-pandemic world. Are we over it now, or are we more open to a hybrid of technology and in-person support?
13:00: The benefit of incorporating AI into your fitness routine is that it adapts to your specific needs and preferences. It can take into account your fitness goals, health conditions, and even your schedule. We talk through our opinions on motivational messaging coming from technology, and whether AI is making fitness more accessible or creating more barriers.
15:50: AI may bring added support in working towards our nutrition goals by generating meal ideas/meal plans. We talk through our opinions on the subject, as well as where this can fall short, as seen recently in the NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association) chat bot controversy.
19:20: AI can gather information based on user inputs, but it can't replace the human touch or understand anything beyond our physical body and performance. What are we missing without the human element of training and nutrition support? Even though AI is expected to play a big role in providing expert guidance, it's… unlikely to completely replace us. Human accountability can be one of the most effective ways to bring about behavioral change.
21:50: “Notification Fatigue” is a real outcome we experience when relying on technology. Repeat notifications can cause us to tune out and can reduce the efficacy of using technology to maintain motivation or consistency. We talk about this outcome in apps like Duolingo and the gamification of fitness.

25:41: Personal data is a concern when delving into AI. Not only is it a risk to us as users, but we also see significant bias and discrimination in the data collected. The fitness and nutrition world are already full of bias, and it is a worry that AI will only amplify these existing issues. AI systems are trained on existing data, and existing data contains biases.
32:28 Looking ahead, the potential for AI, the integration of AI with virtual reality and augmented reality technologies also holds great promise for enhancing the fitness experience can potentially make workouts more dynamic, motivating, and fun.
36:30 Are we out of a job soon? We both believe that embracing AI can allow us to work even better with our clients, as well as the implications for others in our field. We talk through how we utilize AI and technology in our work an

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🟡 Michael Ulloa: https://www.michaelulloa.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman: https://www.katelymannutrition.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/klnutrition/

Thank You for Listening to How to Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!