Wearable technology is entering a new era: these tools, which go beyond traditional activity tracking functions, offer a more in-depth and personalized perspective on our well-being. The direction is towards the birth of real "AI Instructors", capable of influencing our way of thinking and managing health and fitness. A significant change, which could also impact the use of gyms.
The triumph of the quantified self
In recent years, wearable devices have gained widespread popularity, transforming the way we monitor our health. Second Statesman, in the USA (often at the forefront of changes) over 40% of families owns a wearable device. These tools have been proven to deliver tangible benefits. A 2022 study found that, of more than 160.000 participants, those who wore activity trackers they took on average about 1.800 more steps per day, which in terms of weight loss corresponds to about one kilo.
Carol Maher, professor of digital health at the University of South Australia and co-author of the review, highlights how devices change behavior, helping users set goals and track progress. The risk, if anything, is that the effectiveness of these devices tends to decrease over time.
The rise of AI instructors
The field of artificial intelligence offers new possibilities for elevating the effectiveness of wearable devices. Shwetak Patel, professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Washington and director of health technologies at Google, is certain of this.
The field of artificial intelligence offers new possibilities for elevating the effectiveness of wearable devices. Shwetak Patel, professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Washington and director of health technologies at Google, is certain of this.
Patel says AI can extend the capabilities of these sensors beyond current functions, such as detecting falls and measuring blood oxygen. In his recent study he combined data from wearable devices with advanced language models, such as OpenAI's GPT series, to produce useful reasoning in mental health diagnoses. How did it go? There are no answers to this question: only perspectives.
Which?
“AI trainers” could be employed for highly personalized training by interpreting data such as heart rate in the specific context of the user.
An individual aiming for an improvement in their lifestyle would rely on an AI trainer to receive fitness plans and nutritional advice based on the data collected by their wearable device. The tool would offer personalized interventions by adapting to changes in the user's activity, sleep and eating patterns.
In the case of chronic health conditions such as diabetes or hypertension, AI trainers would become an essential link between doctors and patients. By analyzing data (even in real time) such as glucose levels or blood pressure, AI would provide timely alerts and practical advice to manage the condition, thus preventing complications.
Even for those facing stress or mental health problems, AI instructors offer personalized psychological support. Through analyzing data such as sleep patterns and activity levels, the AI trainer would suggest perfect and unique stress management techniques such as meditation or breathing exercises.
AI instructors, next steps
Despite the enthusiasm, there are challenges to overcome. Large language models, such as ChatGPT, sometimes tend to generate inaccurate information. And obviously there is no solid "history" of evidence directly linking the data collected to concrete health outcomes.
However, companies like Google and Apple are already exploring the field. Google plans to provide AI insights to its FitBit users as early as next quarter, while Apple works on AI health coaches, called Quartz, to launch over the next year.
The intersection of wearable technology and artificial intelligence opens new horizons in the field of health and wellness. While there are still obstacles to overcome, the potential of these AI health coaches is immense.
