How AI is transforming the Fitness Industry

The big picture

The Coronavirus got people back to fitness. A recent study by Freeletics shows that 80% of men are exercising more now without access to their gyms than before Covid-19. Here are some of the key drivers of change in the Wellness market

• Customers want personalized services: from personal coaches to community-focused gyms, consumers are looking for wellness services
• Fitness lives on social media: posting your workout on Instagram, posting your run on Facebook, sharing the latest coach video on Twitter. Social media is becoming the perfect space for sharing fitness goals, find your peers, and join support groups
• Changed demographics: Fitness is now for everyone, with the development of baby boomers-focused training programs, child and teenagers training programs, fitness is no longer reserved for the 20–40 crowd.
• Fitness is being softwarized: Digital disruption and transformation is also happening in the fitness industry. With the explosion of wearables, digital tech IoT, and fitness apps.

Be smart

As AI algorithms enable personalization of training plans, diets, workouts, and adjustments throughout the journey. It’s becoming the technology of choice in the digital fitness industry.

Use cases for AI applications in Fitness

• Artificial intelligence in fitness mobile applications
• AI-Based Personal Trainers
• AI-Powered Fitness Wearables
• AI-Powered fitness home equipment
• AI-Driven diet planning mobile apps
• Intelligence footwear powered by artificial intelligence
• Smart assistants for gyms and other health clubs

AI-based personal trainers are digital coaches infused with artificial intelligence that help users to achieve their fitness goals.

Why it matters

Software is eating fitness

• Motion tracking apps have expanded in yoga and aerobics applications and can be used to review, provide advice, correct positions while keeping track of the user’s body parts and monitoring its movements.
• Deep learning is making remarkable strides in adjusting user positions throughout workouts to provide a seamless, interactive experience.
• Coupled with motion-sensing technology, gyms will soon be home to virtual assistants that can offer even more specific instructions and movement suggestions to users to improve their form or change certain habits.

Yes but

• A key feature of the fitness apps ecosystem is the gathering of client data.
• This comes with a slew of privacy questions and challenges
• Some of these apps are definitely going to sell their customers data
• What happens when your fitness data are subpoenaed by an insurance company or a third party

Driving the news

• Jefferies Financial Group, a midsized investment bank, graciously offered its over 1,000 junior bankers the option of a “Peloton bike with a one-year subscription, a Mirror home workout system with a one-year subscription or a package featuring an Apple Watch SE, an iPad Air, and AirPod Pros with AppleCare+,” according to Fortune.
• Tempo raises $220 million Series C round led by SoftBank. The company plans to use the raise to shore up its supply chain, keep up with increased consumer demand, and fuel efforts such as R&D and content. Other participants in the Series C round included Bling Capital, DCM, General Catalyst, Norwest Venture Partners, and Steadfast Capital Ventures.

The catch

Digital coaches features

• Collect details, such as age, weight, height, fitness level, and goals,
• Provide tailored workouts
• Offer customized diet plans
• Deliver individual real-time feedback during workout via audio
• Adapt workout to the user based on performance
• Connect to the user’s camera
• Observe the user during workout and analyze posture

Technology used

• Image recognition
• Movement tracking

What’s next

• Insurance companies will partner with fitness apps to provide “ pay as you live” healthcare and life insurance
• Companies and governments will warrant access to employees fitness data for job applications and proof of fitness

By the numbers

• The home fitness equipment market is projected to hit nearly $4.3B in value by 2021 according to CBInsights.

What people say

• “The best instruction isn’t when you’re reading a manual or watching someone,” Behar said. “It’s when you can superimpose your own body and movement on a trainer…

When you’re instructed to keep your shoulders straight, or your elbows next to your body, you self-correct.” — CNN

What I think

• This market is just in its infancy
• It’s here to stay
• There are apps, machines, and apps, bikes and apps
• The whole idea of having a digital personal trainer is extremely appealing
• The more personalization, correction, feedback is integrated the better, the experience
• This is the future of home workouts

Go deeper

• Kaiahealth — Kaia Health AI algorithm monitors and analyzes the user movements to provide real-time workout instructions and feedback. The app plugs into the user’s phone camera to analyze the movement, and provide feedback to correct the trainee postures.
• Asensei- Asensei sensors are placed in the user’s workout clothes to keep track of movements. Analyzing the trainee movements, the sensor provides personalized instructions to correct body posture and perform exercises correctly.
• VI trainer — The app acts as a personal virtual running coach and uses AI algorithms to encourage the user to run more often. The app proposes a personalized training plan. The user provides personal information like gender, age, fitness level, goals, etc. The workout is tailored and adaptive to user performance.

What to read

• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Health and Fitness
• The benefits of AI-powered wearables in the healthcare and fitness industry

This post is part of Convergences by Melvine. A series exploring how software is changing every corner of human activities. Melvine Manchau