And now, a new class of artificial intelligence (AI) exercise equipment is making sure these at-home exercises are smart enough to monitor your form and help you reach your fitness goals.
Artificial intelligence is generally understood to mean that robots take on tasks that previously could only be performed by humans. For example, your phone uses AI to recognize your face, and ChatGPT, which made headlines in 2022, can have human conversations.
When it comes to fitness, the biggest benefit of AI is personalization, according to Kerry Greer, director of exercise science and training at Nautilus, Inc., a large fitness equipment manufacturer. It can recognize or observe your movement and give you helpful suggestions on how to make your training more effective. “AI can now be used to better understand users, their movement patterns and progression, tailoring an offering to each individual and adapting to their needs,” says Greer.
Depending on what machine you’re using, the AI can provide feedback on your current fitness level, count your reps, tell you how heavy your dumbbells should be, and even write a unique fitness plan for you.
All of these features can lead to safer training at home – a big deal since one of the most common criticisms of training outside the gym is the lack of real-time feedback. Also, Greer notes that having the AI watching over your back means you have to expend less mental energy to track things like how much weight you’ve deadlifted or how many squat reps you’ve completed. “Because it’s an AI-powered experience, it’s always available to you,” she adds.
Below are six of the newest and most innovative home fitness equipment powered by AI
Furnishing
This AI-powered smart fitness mirror offers a variety of exercise modalities, including strength, barre, and boxing. You can even design custom workouts using the brand’s Motion Engine technology, which offers shape cues and trainer guidance to ensure you’re performing movements as confidently as possible. Fiture co-founder Maggie Lu also notes that the mirror won’t be an eyesore in your home either. “This is the only fitness mirror on the market that comes in five shades, and when it’s off it’s a beautiful piece of furniture. When switched on, it turns any room into a gym,” she says.
Price: The Fiture Core retails for $1,395, while the more compact version, the Fiture Mini, retails for $900. Note: It costs $25 per month for the membership which gives you access to the courses.
time shift
If you’ve ever complained about weight racks taking up a lot of space in your home, Tempo’s sleek and small design will blow your mind. The Tempo Move’s cabinet holds 90 pounds, so you can add 42.5 pounds to each Tempo bar. While you have to attach the weights yourself, Tempo’s AI technology tells you how much you’re going to row, squat or deadlift to make the process a little more seamless – and counts your reps as soon as you’re ready. From there, the Tempo app guides you through strength training classes or even assigns you a personal trainer.
Price: The Tempo Move retails for $495, while the Tempo Studio — the company’s more luxurious home device — starts at $2,495. The monthly membership, which gives you access to Tempo’s courses, costs $39 per month.
OxeFit
At-home exercise equipment to help you get stronger in water and snow sports can be hard to come by, but that’s exactly what you get with OxeFit XS1. This smart device provides AI-based feedback on your strength training form, and because OxeFit uses tension bands instead of physical weights, you can adjust the weight without having to move a single plate. If your favorite sport is seasonal, you can also add activities like paddleboarding, kayaking, or skiing (ski cross) to keep your workout going indoors.
Price: The OxeFit XS1 starts at $3,999. Membership costs $39.99 per month
YogiFi Smart Mat
If you’ve ever tried Downward Facing Dog at home and wondered, “Am I doing this right?” this smart mat might be the yoga buddy you need. This device contains sensors that optimize your form as you move from pose to pose, allowing you to monitor your form outside of the studio. Simply roll your current yoga mat over the YogiFi and download the YogaFi app and you’re good to go. As a bonus, the mat is also well padded so you can be easy on your joints and bones while you learn the ins and outs of yoga alignment.
Price: The mat costs $399.99; The app is free.
JRNY
So you already have a well-stocked gym at home? JRNY makes sure you get the most out of it and prevent injury by counting your reps, personalizing your training and correcting your form. You can even say “Hey JRNY” and ask the AI to adjust your weight and reps if you’re feeling too tired for the daily workout. “AI paired with our motion tracking gives you the benefit of analyzing your motion quality, followed by corrective feedback cues to help you improve,” says Greer. “We know that the quality of movement is very important not only for improving fitness, but also for reducing the risk of injury.”
Price: A subscription to JRNY costs $19.99 per month or $149 per year. Note: You must ensure that you have compatible devices to take full advantage of AI.
Carol
Spin bikes for the home abound – but none quite like Carol, an AI-powered exercise bike that personalizes your ride down to the last detail. The bike’s software learns your fitness and performance to create an efficient HIIT workout every time, with each session lasting just five minutes (seriously). According to the researchers behind Carol, this approach can improve your VO2max, get your heart pumping, and boost your metabolism. As you get fitter, Carol will take notice – and adjust your training accordingly.
Price: The bike is $2,595 and the subscription is $15 per month.
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