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Leah Walsh

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

However, could Artificial Intelligence be transforming the fitness industry by providing an option to personal trainers?

Personalized Plans and Adaptable Schedules

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

The 21-year-old hailing from a town in Wales said she liked the liberty to pose queries any time of day – a feature she believed was unavailable with a traditional coach.

She used an AI-powered running app that provided her personalised plans with voice guidance and pace setting for her inaugural long-distance race in 2024.

She said she asked it to design a plan combining cardio and the weight training, and it produced an multi-week plan customized to her event day and objectives.

The user then adjusted the schedule to fit her lifestyle, which she described was convenient.

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

She said she did not want feeling pressure from a live instructor.

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

A weightlifter

Significant Fitness Improvements

Meanwhile, Another individual, in his twenties, from Swansea, has been using AI for his exercise and nutrition programs, and reported he has never felt stronger, increasing his bench press from 70kg to a much heavier load.

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

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

The free tool built 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 noticeable change," he added.

The Expense Comparison: AI vs. Conventional Coaching

A recent study in late 2024 analyzed costs for 17 of the largest gym brands and found the typical monthly fee was around £38 a month, for basic full-access plans.

Prices ranged from £23 at the cheapest provider to a premium rate at the highest-priced.

Based on further data, fitness coaches set their own rates, usually a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per 45-60 minute session outside London and about £45-£65 in London.

Customers typically use a trainer one or two times a week and work with them for a short period, but these agreements are often adaptable.

A personal trainer

The Irreplaceable Personal Element

Fitness coach Dafydd Judd, based in Cardiff, acknowledged AI can be useful to speed up progress, but believes it will not supplant the personal interaction and accountability that live training offers.

This expert, who has 12 years experience as a trainer, focuses on senior clients and injury rehabilitation. He said some of his clients also use AI.

"I think it's very valuable, more knowledge is good," he said.

"I think the more people are connected digitally the more they'll desire human connection because they want the warmth from the understanding that is missing from a machine," he added.

Dafydd said Artificial intelligence can inform users and make guidance more efficient.

However, he argued true dedication comes when people show up in person for their sessions.

"No matter how helpful as it is at 2am, a digital tool cannot ensure you show up at 7am before work," he concluded.

In the view of many, he suggested, the gym is a place to leave phones behind and stop being glued to screens.