🔗 Share this article

Leah Walsh

After a holiday period packed with indulgent treats and downtime, many people enter January aiming to get their fitness back on track.

But, is it possible that AI be transforming the fitness industry by providing an alternative to human coaches?

Personalized Programs and Flexible Timelines

One fitness enthusiast employed an AI tool for last-minute preparation for the Cardiff Half Marathon.

This young woman from a town in Wales said she liked the freedom to pose queries at all hours – a feature she felt was unavailable with a personal trainer.

She used an AI-powered fitness application that provided her customized schedules with voice guidance and speed targets for her first half marathon in recent years.

She said she requested it to design a plan combining cardio and the weight training, and it generated an 11-week programme tailored to her event day and goals.

The user then tweaked the plan to suit her lifestyle, which she described was highly practical.

Subsequently, she opted for a different tool because it was cheaper and she could ask it questions whenever she wanted. Her result was a minute faster than her target finish.

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

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

A weightlifter

Significant Strength Gains

Meanwhile, Another individual, in his twenties, from Swansea, has been employing artificial intelligence for his exercise and nutrition programs, and said he has achieved peak strength, boosting his chest press from 70kg to a much heavier load.

Richard turned to a bot for assistance after being unable to run a race.

"I realized I need to sort myself out," he commented.

This no-cost application built a fitness and meal program tailored to his aims, and created organized workouts.

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

The Cost Comparison: AI vs. Traditional Coaching

A recent survey in late 2024 compared prices for numerous of the largest fitness chains and found the typical monthly fee was around £38 per month, based on basic memberships.

Fees ranged from a lower price at the cheapest chain to a premium rate at the most expensive.

Based on further data, personal trainers determine their own fees, usually a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per hour-long appointment outside London and about a similar range in London.

Customers will often hire a trainer once or twice a week and work with them for a few months, however these agreements are completely flexible.

A personal trainer

The Irreplaceable Human Element

Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, based in Cardiff, said artificial intelligence can be beneficial to accelerate results, but is convinced it will never replace the human connection and responsibility that in-person coaching offers.

This expert, who has 12 years experience as a trainer, specialises in older adults and recovery from injuries. He mentioned some of his trainees also employ AI.

"In my opinion it's extremely useful, additional information is positive," he said.

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

The trainer said AI can inform clients and make guidance more efficient.

However, he said real commitment comes when people appear physically for their sessions.

"No matter how helpful as it is at 2am, a computer cannot ensure you show up at early morning before work," Dafydd concluded.

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