I Tested the First Full-Scale, AI-Powered Gym -- Are Humans Still Required?

CNET

8 hours ago

Before you even enter the building, you'll want to know more about Fred Fitness as you see members with Therabody JetBoots wrapped around their legs, providing compression, vibration and red light therapy to recover after a workout. All this tech doesn't dilute the welcoming atmosphere provided by the warm wood beams, plant life, plush seating and a community table.
However, as you venture further into the gym, you'll see it's filled with AI-powered machines and fitness tech designed to maximize your workouts. I was intrigued. As a wellness expert who pays close attention to whether new technology and trends can actually benefit our health, I aimed to find out if Fred Fitness, the first full-scale AI gym, could potentially be the future of fitness.
Anna trying the Therabody JetBoots.
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How does Fred Fitness work?
Fred Fitness was launched in mid-February by CEO Andre Enzensberger, whose brother Alfred founded the Clever Fit gym franchise in Germany. To break into the US market with a unique concept, Alfred teamed up with smart fitness technology company EGYM, which created Genius, an AI that generates training plans. Fred Fitness is now the first full-scale EGYM.
It all starts on your wrist, with a green band that is the key to your entire experience. It contains all your information and workout history -- your height, weight, strength, pace, reps, sets and even your biological age -- all controlled by Genius. Since it was my first time here, I was guided by General Manager Miguel Alvino, who emphasized, "We are super people-driven. The tech is just here to assist us."
Alvino demonstrates how the wristband connects to the fitness hub.
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In other words, it's not like your average gym where you can sign up and immediately begin working out on the machines. It involves teaching members how to use the machinery, and make adjustments. Fred Fitness has received negative feedback for taking away trainers' jobs with its AI tech, but even in the short time I was there, I saw several staff members walking around to offer members assistance.
The Fred Fitness fitness assessment
Every member starts with a fitness assessment, during which they learn their biological age. It takes about an hour. The equipment for this process is in its own section and contains an InBody body composition analyzer, EGYM chest press, leg press and two fitness hubs, where all the onboarding happens. You simply tap your wristband on the fitness hub, log in and answer questions about your birthdate, gym training experience, areas of the body you want to focus on, injuries and any pieces of exercise equipment you want to avoid.
You also choose your main fitness goal out of the options general fitness, body toning, rehab, athletic, weight loss or muscle building. Each goal shows the different percentages the machine will use to create your workout. General fitness, the one I chose, is composed of 40% strength, 40% cardio and 20% mobility and flexibility.
I then stepped back on a gray EGYM mat and the camera turned on to measure my height. It was spot on. I took my shoes and socks off to step on the InBody body composition analyzer. It recorded my weight and then I was instructed to grab onto the machine's arms so it could scan the rest of my body.
Anna using the InBody body composition analyzer.
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The fitness hub allows you to choose whether or not to see your body composition stats, such as your metabolic rate, muscle mass and fat mass for each arm and leg. Either way, it shows your biological age, so you know where you're starting.
Alvino mentioned that you can retake your assessment. He often advises members to come back first thing in the morning when fasting to take the test for more accurate results.
Next, I stepped back on the EGYM mat, was handed a wooden pole and began the flexibility test. The fitness hub demonstrated different stretches it wanted me to hold with the pole for balance and then used its camera to measure the degree of my flexibility.
I struggled to follow the machine here, and occasionally the camera was unable to recognize my purple sneakers, so I appreciated that Alvino was there. Eventually, I had to remove my sneakers, and the camera was better able to identify my bright white socks. I could also understand why members would want the option to retake the test after they are used to the machinery.
Anna taking the flexibility test.
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Next, I took the strength test, which involved logging into chest and leg press machines with my wristband so the equipment could have my information. All equipment runs on gamification software, which Alvino compared to Pac-Man. Essentially, after a tutorial, you push and pull the machine to make a circle go up or down along a path where you can collect coins on the screen. At certain points, the machine would remind me to breathe out. I enjoyed this aspect of it, since I didn't feel like I was working out, and I was still able to focus on what I was doing.
Anna tests her strength on the leg press.
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Each machine currently has four different training modes: regular, negative, eccentric and concentric. Because the machines are electric, they can maximize your muscle contractions by providing resistance.
As I got set up at the different machines, Alvino adjusted them for my arm and leg length but mentioned that an "extremity update" would soon be coming that would have the machines measure your limbs and adjust for this automatically. Though a trainer will still be there to make sure it's the right fit, this should decrease the amount of physical adjustments they have to make.
At this point, I realized how crucial Alvino's presence was during this test and asked if members typically do it by themselves with the machine as their only guide. "Originally, that was the idea of how it worked. Early on, we learned that was never going to be a thing," he said. "We've shifted even more so that original idea to now you can see [trainers] walking around and we are fully staffed at all times. That's because we want to make sure we have human people available and trainers on staff."
Next was my final test -- the cardio test. Fred Fitness uses new Matrix treadmills that were launched at the end of 2024. These machines allow you to log into Netflix, Spotify and more. You also only have to do so once because your wristband saves all that info for you.
The treadmills also use a gamification system, in which you have to keep pace so that a ball moves along a corridor on your screen. During the test, it asks you every 60 seconds what your fatigue level is, and once you hit nine, the workout will stop. You can also pause at any time.
Anna taking the cardio test.
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This was another part of the test when I was glad to have a human guide. When the treadmill picked up the pace faster than I expected, I wanted it to pause, but had trouble pressing on the touchscreen. Then, the faster it went, the more trouble I had because I was focused on running and not falling over. Eventually, Alvino had to come over to stop the machine for me.
The Genius AI workout plan
Between the cardio, strength and flexibility tests, the fitness hub was able to show me my biological age for each category, which gave me a good idea of what I have to work on. Then, Genius uses these metrics to generate a workout plan, which you can access on the Fred Fitness app. All of this is included in the membership, which is $150 per month. There are no hidden fees -- the only add-on is an extra $15 per month charge if you'd like the gym to provide you with towels for showering.
Alvino showing us his Genius workout plan on the Fred Fitness app.
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If you don't like the workout plan Genius creates, you can re-order the exercises or do "individual" mode instead, treating it like a normal gym where you do whatever you want. As part of the membership, you can also sit down with one of the Fred Fitness personal trainers, who can use the Genius plan as a base, but then further customize the whole plan so that you'll enjoy it more. Trainers can also upload their own workouts into the app, for which there are options you can do at home or when traveling.
Once you're done with your fitness assessment and have your plan, you're free to use the entire gym. In addition to the machines in the general "open mode" area, there is a circuit training area where you can do a full-body workout in 40 minutes, a "game day" area where members can compete to get their name on a leader board and win a prize (this month, it's a $300 InBody smart scale), a cardio deck, specialty machines and dumbbells.
The Fred Fitness "game day" area and leaderboard.
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Interestingly, downstairs, there is an "analog room" where they keep the AI tech out. Here, you can find Hyperice massage guns, a cable system, ZeroWheels (which Alvino dubbed "the ab rollers of the future"), yoga mats and foam rollers. Upstairs, there are locker rooms complete with Dyson Airwraps and hand dryers, so tech is omnipresent in the gym.
The analog room.
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The future of fitness -- and Fred Fitness
"We've learned a lot with this one. When we opened, we had no dumbbells. We had no cable system. We're just paying attention," said Alvino. "We'll probably never be that gym that has a sauna or cold plunge. We want to stay focused on what we're really good at and let the people who are really good at that stuff do that stuff."
However, Fred Fitness does recognize that some members want those other amenities, so on its app, it offers discounts to businesses that offer cold plunges, saunas, healthy meals, supplements and more.
One of the most surprising aspects of the gym is that, other than the energetic workout music, it's relatively quiet. There is no clinking or clanking machinery -- just a peaceful hum. As someone who is sensitive to loud sounds and can experience sensory sensitivity when overstimulated, I could see myself enjoying workouts here.
A view of the machine floors.
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Since fully opening on Feb. 15, Fred Fitness has about 600 members. Within nine months to a year, Fred Fitness plans to open a new location in Culver City, California.
As if on cue, when I walked out of the gym, a self-driving car was parked outside. While I watched it drive off, I asked myself: Is an AI-powered gym something I would sign up for?
If I could afford the $150 per month membership and it was in my area, I would. I like the AI-driven training that personalizes your workouts and adapts each machine to your plan, but most importantly, I appreciate that there are personal trainers there who can correct your form. I would say that this gym would be great for someone who doesn't want human contact when they work out, but I do think that personal touch (literally) is still essential -- at least for now.