An office worker in his 40s, identified as A, uses a gym in Seoul that has introduced an artificial intelligence (AI)-based workout system. Because it is close to the office, A stops by during lunch or after work whenever there is time. Instead of getting separate personal training (PT), A follows the guidance on screens installed on each piece of equipment.
AI also sets workout intensity and routines tailored to the user's body data. A said, "There are benefits to getting PT, but the price is burdensome and I feel self-conscious when it's time to extend sessions," adding, "At an AI-based gym, it's convenient because I can work out as much as I want."
AI is making inroads into gyms. Even without one-on-one sessions with a trainer, users can get guidance on how to exercise, offering a new option for those who feel pressured by in-person sessions or PT sales pitches.
◇ Scan a QR code to start a customized workout with an "AI trainer"
On the afternoon of the 2nd, at an AI gym in Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul. In the cardio zone, someone was climbing a stair climber, often called the "stairway to heaven." Next to it, a user was running on a treadmill. In the weights zone, a woman did a pec deck fly alone.
But there were no familiar trainer shouts or voices explaining form to members that you often hear in regular gyms. Users continued their workouts while looking at the screens installed on their equipment.
The way to start a workout was different, too. When a dedicated NFC watch or the QR code in a smartphone app was recognized by the machine, AI suggested appropriate weights and reps based on the user's body information and past workout data. The order of exercises for the day was also set automatically. It takes about an hour to complete the entire course.
◇ "One, two"… AI even counts your reps
There is no need to ask how to use a machine you are trying for the first time. A video on the machine's screen explains how to do the exercise, and once you start, it counts each rep. When a set ends, the screen shows how long to rest before the next exercise.
For stretching, the AI trainer on the screen slowly demonstrates the movements and the user follows along. When the exercise is finished, the next machine to use appears on the screen. The user finds the machine name written in Korean and moves to it, then scans the QR code again. If you want to do preferred exercises regardless of the set order, you can select "free workout mode."
Not only workouts but also procedures such as membership registration can be handled contact-free. One-time passes, workout clothes, and towels can be purchased through the application.
A 20-something office worker surnamed Moon, who uses the AI gym on a monthly basis, said, "I'm very conscious of others' eyes, so it was uncomfortable when trainers approached to teach me or recommend PT, but I like that this gym doesn't have that," adding, "The AI also feels reliable."
◇ Concerns that AI could "reduce jobs"
Some gyms are combining AI with existing PT. A gym in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, promotes that it analyzes members' bodies with an AI body-shape analyzer before starting in-person PT and then provides customized workouts based on the results.
However, trainers have mixed feelings about AI technology being introduced throughout gyms. It is useful as a supplementary tool to create more precise routines tailored to each body, but as AI's role grows, there is a possibility that trainers' positions could shrink.
A 30-something trainer surnamed Kim, who works as a PT trainer in Dongdaemun District, Seoul, said, "Each member's health condition, whether they have eaten, and preferred intensity change every time, and AI cannot control all of those details," while adding, "As AI gets smarter, there is anxiety that jobs could decrease."