Summary
From connected bikes to athletics tracks, a major tool is emerging: artificial intelligence. Long reserved for labs and Olympic teams, AI is now entering regular sports facilities and promising to disrupt the concept of sports performance.
Sensors, watches, and connected machines gather thousands of data points on every stride and movement. For athletes and enthusiasts alike, this combination of AI and sports performance seems like a shortcut, even though the reality is more nuanced.
How AI Supports Muscle and Brain Training
At Technogym, resistance, speed, and weight on machines adjust automatically based on the athlete’s profile. With Biodrive technology, the focus is not just on lifting heavy weights, but on targeting specific muscle fibers and protecting joints.
Technogym CEO Nerio Alessandri describes this precision as providing immediate feedback that helps improve technique, avoid errors, and reduce the risk of injury. In the long run, this leads to faster progress and a more consistent improvement in performance, guiding users towards their goals with scientific precision.
AI as a Strategic Co-pilot in Elite Sports
For elite athletes, artificial intelligence creates digital twins, replicas of athletes fed by sensors. These replicas simulate strides, jumps, or throws, testing the best strategies without affecting the real body.
A digital heart was created for American runner Desiree Linden, continuously monitoring their cardiovascular data, anticipating their response to exertion, and adjusting preparation to achieve ultimate performance with controlled risks.
AI and Running: Beware of Limitations!
At first glance, artificial intelligence seems to have an answer to everything, even when it comes to lacing up your sneakers. Despite offering structured training plans integrating essential concepts like progressivity, hydration, and nutrition, the limits of AI become apparent quickly. Coach Diego Bouchar emphasizes that running requires human guidance to avoid errors in interpretation and prevent avoidable injuries.
While AI can guide, it cannot replace the indispensable human connection needed for a sustainable and safe running practice.
