🔗 Share this article I Exchanged My Own Personal Trainer for AI – And It's Working. A runner Leah used AI to train for her latest 21km race and achieved a new record. After a festive period packed with indulgent treats and downtime, many people enter the new year looking to get their fitness back on track. However, could Artificial Intelligence be changing the world of exercise by providing an option to personal trainers? Personalized Plans and Adaptable Schedules Leah Walsh employed an AI tool for impromptu training for the Cardiff Half Marathon. This young woman from Aberdare said she liked the freedom to ask it questions at all hours – something she felt was not possible with a traditional coach. Leah relied on an AI-powered fitness application that gave her personalised plans with audio coaching and speed targets for her inaugural long-distance race in 2024. She explained she requested it to design a regimen merging cardio and the weight training, and it generated an multi-week plan tailored to her event day and goals. Leah then tweaked the plan to suit her daily routine, which she said 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 full minute quicker than her target finish. She noted she did not want feeling pressure from a live instructor. "Using artificial intelligence you have to motivate yourself, which I quite like," she added. A weightlifter He has been leveraging AI for his workout and nutrition, and says he feels stronger than ever. Significant Fitness Improvements In a similar case, Another individual, 23, from Swansea, has been employing artificial intelligence for his exercise and nutrition programs, and said he has never felt stronger, increasing his bench press from 70kg to a much heavier load. Richard turned to a AI assistant for assistance after being forced to walk a running event. "I realized I had to sort myself out," he said. The free tool built a fitness and meal program tailored to his aims, and established structured routines. "I work out for about two hours a day and I've seen a real difference," he added. The Cost Comparison: Technology vs. Traditional Training One recent study in late 2024 compared costs for numerous of the biggest fitness chains and found the average membership cost was around £38 per month, for standard memberships. Fees started at a lower price at the cheapest chain to £132 at the most expensive. Based on industry research, personal trainers set their own rates, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per hour-long session in most areas and about a similar range in London. Clients will often use a coach once or twice a week and collaborate for a short period, however these arrangements are often adaptable. A personal trainer Fitness expert one professional maintains AI will never replace the human connection that comes from in-person training. The Irreplaceable Personal Touch Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, from Cardiff, acknowledged artificial intelligence 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 coach, specialises in older adults and injury rehabilitation. He said a number of his clients also use AI. "I think it's very valuable, additional information is positive," he said. "I believe the more that people are connected digitally the more they'll desire personal contact because they want the empathy from the understanding that is missing from a computer," he continued. Dafydd explained AI can inform users and make guidance more efficient. But, he said true dedication comes when people show up physically for training. "No matter how helpful as it is at 2am, a digital tool won't keep you accountable at 7am before work," Dafydd concluded. In the view of many, he said, the fitness center is a place to leave phones behind and take a break from technology.