Can you guess the age of artificial intelligence (AI)? It is difficult, right? Not for the ones who are spending every single minute of their life advancing this technology.
We have seen that circumstances make a huge difference in the acceleration of technology; 4G was in the deployment phase during the 2008 global crisis and it matured with economic recovery. The same is the case with 5G being in the deployment phase during the pandemic and it is sure to mature very soon as governments and private companies relentlessly pursue a sound economic recovery.
In the past year, portable devices have just gotten smarter than before helping us manage our mental and physical health with the use of AI. The latest smartwatches can alert users with early detection of symptoms such as fever, measure oxygen levels, and encourage users to refer to their premium platforms for the guided sessions by famous health experts to practice meditation, yoga along with other physical and mindfulness exercises. This is all happening due to just a pinch of AI’s presence in the fitness industry. The extent to which AI can revolutionise the fitness industry in the next five years is beyond imagination.
According to the research data analysed and published by Comprar Acciones, worldwide consumer spending on health and fitness apps have risen by 50% last year alone. This trend is expected to rise globally and is predicted to reach a market revenue of $298.30 billion by 2026. Another UAE-based survey revealed, more than half of respondents in the UAE (55%) are prioritising their personal health now more than ever.
AI technologies have grown in their skills of natural language, with many popular AI assistants now understanding accents, idioms, and phrases that may have been for AI in the past. AI’s personalisation has also helped users embrace AI in their day-to-day activities. From allowing AI to help us choose what to eat, buy or wear, AI is a major innovation we can no longer live without. With each day, there are new fitness apps, wearable tech, and software programmes that can help people keep track of and make the most of their workouts.
Per Johansson, General Manager, Robert Bosch Middle East
Leading fitness trackers have taken advantage of AI in two significant ways. The first involves personalising and adjusting to you through apps and wearables. The second involves self-learning, one of AI’s main features and advantages in fitness, to learn your fitness routine and biosensors to track your recovery. In this way, AI technology can make personalised recommendations for your custom fitness routines. Last year, we saw the launch of electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor on a smartwatch that allows users to measure the changes in skin temperature and helps manage stress- nothing could be more timely development than this in the wearable industry. An EDA sensor gives the users unique insights into their body’s response to stress and the supporting mobile applications linked to the smartwatch serve as a platform full of content that can help one manage both physical and mental stress.
AI’s self-learning capabilities and update-able software allow trackers to grow with you. Sensors are the main connection between you and your fitness tracker. Bosch Sensortec is launching revolutionary self-learning motion sensors and adding AI to portable devices. This has brought about new highs in the industry. The wearable manufacturers are empowered with sensors that provide highly personalised fitness tracking through self-learning AI software that recognises and adapts to a wide variety of movements and is able to learn any new fitness activity that is based on repetitive, cyclical patterns. They can tell you when to slow down, speed up, and gives you a comprehensive look at your regular workouts. AI-enhanced wearables are uniquely designed to keep track of your improvements and how much time you’ve spent exercising. Even better, the data is made shareable so you can directly keep your fitness instructors updated, in fact, this technology enables users to be trainers and trainees too at the same time.
Fitness trackers are incorporating AI for a smarter fitness journey. The sensors enable AI coaches to be even more helpful than a human as it takes your personal information into account, has learned more exercise techniques and can track your progress easily as you work out. Wearables are only getting smarter, so why not invest? With what we now know about AI’s current place in the health and fitness industry, the future of AI technology and biosensors is bright and will work more cohesively with your regular gym visits.
