A CNN Producer Explores the 'Magic AI' Workout Mirror (cnn.com) 28
CNN looks at "the Magic AI fitness mirror," a new product "watching you, and giving you feedback automatically," while sometimes playing footage of a recorded personal trainer.
Long-time Slashdot reader destinyland describes CNN's video report: CNN says the device "tracks form, counts reps, and corrects technique in real-time — and it doesn't go easy on you." (Although the company's CEO/cofounder, Varun Bhanot, says "we're not trying to completely replace personal trainers. What we are providing is a more accessible alternative.")
CNN call the company "more a computer-vision firm than a fitness company, building the tech for this mirror from the ground up." CEO Bhanot tells CNN he'd hired a personal trainer in his 20s to get fit, but "Going through that journey, I realized how old-fashioned personal training was. Dumbbells were still dumb. There was no data or augmentation for the whole process!"
"The AI fitness and wellness market is already huge — and it's growing," CNN adds. "In 2025 the global market was worth $11 billion, according to [market research firm] Insightace Analytic. By 2035, this market is expected to reach just shy of $58 billion. And Magic AI is far from alone. Form, Total, Speediance, and Echelon, to name a few, are all brands vying for a slice of this market.
Even the most purely physical of activities — exercising your body — now gets "enhanced" with AI accessories...
Long-time Slashdot reader destinyland describes CNN's video report: CNN says the device "tracks form, counts reps, and corrects technique in real-time — and it doesn't go easy on you." (Although the company's CEO/cofounder, Varun Bhanot, says "we're not trying to completely replace personal trainers. What we are providing is a more accessible alternative.")
CNN call the company "more a computer-vision firm than a fitness company, building the tech for this mirror from the ground up." CEO Bhanot tells CNN he'd hired a personal trainer in his 20s to get fit, but "Going through that journey, I realized how old-fashioned personal training was. Dumbbells were still dumb. There was no data or augmentation for the whole process!"
"The AI fitness and wellness market is already huge — and it's growing," CNN adds. "In 2025 the global market was worth $11 billion, according to [market research firm] Insightace Analytic. By 2035, this market is expected to reach just shy of $58 billion. And Magic AI is far from alone. Form, Total, Speediance, and Echelon, to name a few, are all brands vying for a slice of this market.
Even the most purely physical of activities — exercising your body — now gets "enhanced" with AI accessories...
more /. shilling (Score:3)
'Bhanot tells CNN he'd hired a personal trainer in his 20s to get fit, but "Going through that journey, I realized how old-fashioned personal training was. Dumbbells were still dumb. There was no data or augmentation for the whole process!"'
What a moron. Yet his product is being shilled here.
Shannon turning in his grave (Score:2)
Kewl story, bro...not very articulate critique (Score:2)
'Bhanot tells CNN he'd hired a personal trainer in his 20s to get fit, but "Going through that journey, I realized how old-fashioned personal training was. Dumbbells were still dumb. There was no data or augmentation for the whole process!"'
What a moron. Yet his product is being shilled here.
So why is he a moron? Perhaps you should put some effort into articulating your objections because they're not really obvious. I'll wager you're not a fitness expert or even in above-average shape if you're commenting like this. I honestly can't tell if you have a valid critique or not because you put no effort into explaining yourself before insulting the author.
As a fitness enthusiast myself, I'll guess you're out of shape and clueless....because such technology can really make a difference...if d
Re: (Score:1)
My reaction was the same though. Exercise can be pretty data driven if you feel like doing the work. The best app i saw for it was the bodybuilding.com web page but it'll all broke dick with the good features behind a paywall now so.
Ai is stupid here.
Re: (Score:1)
Also i don't see how this is going to catch anything more than the most wonky of form. Camera based full body tracking for simple things like mocap or VR dancing is pretty bad I don't see how this is going to fix my deadlifts or know I'm not fully extending
Re: (Score:2)
Also i don't see how this is going to catch anything more than the most wonky of form. Camera based full body tracking for simple things like mocap or VR dancing is pretty bad I don't see how this is going to fix my deadlifts or know I'm not fully extending
That would be an example of a legitimate criticism! :). I have a bit more faith in machine vision that you do, but yeah...it's probably not realistic to catch too much unless you have perfect lighting and multiple angles....so chances are your view is more likely than mine.
Nothing is Safe... (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
I feel like fitness has been enshittified for decades, OG enshittification. My whole life fitness as a "business" has been rife with scams and pseudo-science, be it sketchy pills or late night infomercials for instant-trash machines.
Gyms are the original scammy subscription service. The supplements industry is effectively an unregulated racket out to profit maximally off false promises. Any forum or congreation of "fitness people" devolves into a hellscape of opinions where noone is ever correct. The wh
In the dirt maggot! (Score:5, Funny)
Make R. Lee Ermey the Marine Corps drill instructor avatar that lives within this thing. "You are a disgusting fat body Pyle!" I was amazed at how, in just three months, I went from an average fairly lazy teenager to a physically fit motivated beast during Marine Corps boot camp. As a bonus add "incentives" to do better like letting the mirror shock you when you are not sweating enough to reach your true potential or locking your AI cloud connected Samsung fridge's door when it deems you are too disgusting and fat. When the avatar notices you have gotten in your car and heading to a fast food joint it shuts down your AI cloud connected car. "Not on my watch maggot!" :) AI and the cloud are your friends.
AI is an exciting new tech (Score:3)
...with lots of potential good uses
Unfortunately hucksters, marketoids, salesweasels, trendmongers and other assorted slimeballs will try to ride the AI wave to riches by slapping bad AI onto every imaginable consumer product with easily predictable results
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall... (Score:1)
Just wait until some bright spark creates a pro-anorexia/pro-bulimia website that syncs with your teenage daughter's AI mirror.
I don't need feedback (Score:2)
But the opposite is happening. As the job market contracts because automation is just devouring jobs we all have to be more productive so that we can justify our right to live by contributing more and more. Which means more hours worked.
This puts us all in a death loop where you become more productive to compete for the ever-shrinking pool of good pa
creepy (Score:2)
Make room. (Score:2)
doesn't go easy on you (Score:2)
Does it have a gunnery sergeant Hartman mode?
Re: (Score:2)
What I want is a Yosarian mode.
Prior art (Score:2)
Here [fineartamerica.com].
Lame (Score:2)
I want an AI mirror that makes me look fit without having to do any workout!
Re: (Score:2)
\o/ (Score:1)
When do we get some kind of AI gadget which helps us water plants with BrawnDo? Perhaps a little screen on the side of the bottle with an accelerometer, voice, Bluetooth etc.
Mirror, mirror on the wall . . . (Score:2)
So another expensive coat rack? (Score:2)
Maybe an AI Drill Sergeant would serve the superficial intended purpose better? The real purpose, on the other hand, is to get people to buy it and keep paying for it.
You know, like how Planet Fitness gives out pizza and cupcakes.