I’ve been hearing a lot about AI being used to improve workouts and fitness routines, but I’m not sure exactly how it works or if it’s actually useful for weight training. Can anyone share real experiences or explain how AI can personalize fitness or track progress? I want to know if it’s worth trying before I invest time or money.
TBH, AI can be kinda wild with this stuff, but it’s also a mixed bag. Some apps/systems use AI to build workout plans that adjust based on your progress (like if you always skip leg day, lol), or they track your form using your phone camera and tell you if you’re botching a squat (because, yeah, most of us are). Stuff like Tempo or Tonal, they brag about being “AI-powered,” but sometimes it feels more like you’ve just got a slightly judgy robot trainer. My issue? Sometimes the AI isn’t great with nuance. You get a program that says do 10 pushups when maybe you could handle a lot more—or less, if you’re dead tired. Real talk: it’s helpful if you’re a beginner and have no clue where to start, or if you want detailed tracking/stats about your lifts. But if you’re already kinda advanced or know your body, it just gets in the way or gives generic advice. TL;DR— cool toy, but don’t fire your real coach just yet. Also, if anybody’s AI actually got them jacked, PLEASE spill—still waiting…
Depends what you mean by ‘help.’ For me, AI in fitness is like that gym bro who read a bunch of articles but never actually benched twice their bodyweight—it talks big, sometimes delivers, and often just overcomplicates things. Yeah, it can count your reps, remind you (with an angry ping) when you miss a workout, and throw you pie-chart stats about how your “pull” versus “push” days are (supposedly) imbalanced. It’ll even “watch” your deadlift with your phone and point out if your butt’s popping up too soon, but honestly, half the time it’s just glitching because you’re standing at the wrong angle or your living room’s too messy.
To echo some of what @mikeappsreviewer said (and, hey, he ain’t wrong!), these “smart” suggestions are nice for noobs who’d otherwise just stare at the dumbbells hoping for biceps by osmosis. But sometimes the AI just misses context. Feeling under the weather? Too bad, your robot overlord wants you to set a new PR because the algorithm thinks it’s time. Already familiar with progressive overload? AI’s “adaptive” plans can feel basic or weirdly conservative.
One spot I actually kinda dig is injury prevention—some apps (like the ones tied to wearables) will flag patterns (like asymmetrical movement or weird drops in heart rate variability) and suggest tuning down intensity or switching exercises before you wreck yourself. That’s a slick bonus you don’t always get with human trainers who aren’t watching you 24/7.
But honestly? I’d never trust AI for peaking before a meet or trying to fine-tune my form for powerlifting. It’s just not nuanced enough yet, doesn’t know your individual aches and quirks, and can’t tell the difference between “good pain” and “uh-oh.” It’s a decent tool in the box—useful for tracking stuff, mixing up workouts, or keeping you honest when you’re half-assing it—but the human touch (or just, you know, being self-aware and learning some basics) hasn’t been replaced. If someone out there got swole off pure AI, I wanna see receipts and before/after pics, not just an app leaderboard.
Let’s break this down like a weight stack: AI and fitness is a mixed bag but not total snake oil. The real win is habit-building—AI-driven reminders, stat tracking, even badge rewards. That’s the stuff that gets people showing up on squat day instead of inventing reasons to “recover.” Think: accountability minus the guilt-shouting human trainer.
You get these adaptive plans that tweak reps and sets based on your logging, which is actually decent if you suck at structure or get paralyzed by too many options. The AI may not know you tweaked your back shoveling snow, but it will pester you if your numbers tank or you’re trending toward burnout.
On the plus side—AI can analyze movement (with some sketchy accuracy—let’s keep it real), so you’ll maybe catch sloppy form before your knees explode on Bulgarian split squats. But competitors already pointed out, if you’re doing power cleans and angle is bad or there’s a coffee table in the way, good luck getting nuanced tips. You’ll get “knees caving” or “hips too high”—useful for total beginners, but expert lifters will notice the generic advice. Apps like those our rivals mentioned are sometimes too conservative or pushy—like, “Today is the day—do 8 sets, king!” when you’re running on three hours sleep. AI has no chill.
Cons? Sometimes you end up spending more time fussing with your phone than lifting. Privacy can be a concern if you don’t love the idea of your squats being analyzed in the cloud. Not to mention, modifying plans for vacations or random life chaos? Still easier with a human coach.
But for motivation, numbers, and not having to think hard after a long day? That can be gold. Just don’t expect the iron paradise to be unlocked unless you, you know, actually lift. If you’re after a hybrid approach, think of these tools as your organized, stat-obsessed gym partner—fine for getting in the groove but not (yet) a threat to the seasoned coach with a whistle and a spreadsheet.
Bottom line: use the AI for structure, motivation, and tracking. Rely on your brain, or a real human, for context, advanced tweaks, and staying sane when the “smart” plan just isn’t that smart. If anyone out there has gotten shredded with nothing but a phone and an algorithm, the whole forum’s waiting for your TED Talk.