Welcome toAdventures with AI, a column exploring what happens when artificial intelligence takes control of everyday tasks.
Gyms are ghastly places frequented by some of the most unpleasant people on Earth.
After years of enduring these assaults on my senses, I decided enough was enough.
I cancelled my membership, built a home gym, and started playing five-a-side football with friends.
It was one of the smartest decisions Id ever made.
My domestic shelter quickly turned into a prison and I lost all motivation to exercise.
But quality sadomasochism doesnt come cheap.
Meet Jeremy:
Jeremy offers video workouts on the fitness appKemtai.
As you train in front of your laptops webcam, computer vision monitors over 40 points on your body.
The virtual trainers use this analysis to provide real-time feedback on your form.
After each exercise, you receive a mark out of 100.
All of this needs to happen in a few milliseconds so that you feel like the feedback is punctual.
I was mildly apprehensive about using AI to improve my precarious health.
But Jeremy has kind eyes.
They earned my trust.
I set my aim as losing weight, select intermediate level, and create my workout.
Jeremy springs into action.
Try harder… have a go at deepen the stretch even more.
Hes giving me great feedback.
Theyre mistakes Ive probably been making for years.
But my wrist up outward rotation ismagnificent.
After 20 minutes, Im shattered.
I make a run at take a break by hiding from my webcam.
But Jeremy instantly notices: Return to starting position.
Im impressed by his vigilance and advice.
This internal software can also highlight cases in which human intervention is required.
It certainly feels like an effective workout.
But does it impress the experts?
I ask Kimberley Mitchell, a personal trainer atOriGym Centre of Excellence, what she thinks.
She does add that AI cant replicate all the benefits of a real-life personal trainer.
They can spot things that a computer cant and make more detailed adjustments to their clients needs.
She also wondered if Kemtai occasionally had technical issues.
In my experience, glitches are very rare.
I escape this grisly fate by hitting the exit button.
Another issue involves the reliance on a webcam.
You need a pretty large space for Kemtai to capture all your body movements.
Telem suggests connecting my laptop to a TV, which makes a marked improvement.
The other limitation of Kemtai involves the exercises.
At present, the workouts involve minimal equipment and only light weights.
To bulk up a bit, Ill have to try something else: my old frenemy GPT-3.
The results were mixed (sorry).
Undeterred, I gave the text generator the chance to make me swole.
FitRated, a workout equipment review site, recently used the model togenerate workout routines and meal plans.
Give me the recommendations for an American man who is overweight by 30 lbs.
I skip the meal plan, but give the workout a go.
Personal trainers were pretty impressed by the plan.
More than half (55%) of the ones surveyed by FitnessRated said theyd try it themselves.
Mitchell, the trainer from OriGym Centre of Excellence, also thought it was a good plan.
Hes kind, knowledgeable, and has that personalized touch.
The premium version of Kemtai costs $19 a month or $190 for a year.
Theres also a selection of free workouts on the website.
Story byThomas Macaulay
Thomas is the managing editor of TNW.
He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers.
Away from work, he e(show all)Thomas is the managing editor of TNW.
He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers.
Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse).
