What Tech Can’t Replicate
In a world increasingly dominated by screens and algorithms, we know this: some things are better "human."
By
February 10, 2026
AI is here to stay. And it’s shaking up many industries, including fitness. I recently read the Les Mills’ 2026 Global Fitness Report and it revealed that, thankfully, people want humans over AI in the gym.
Why? AI can't replicate genuine human connection and the irreplaceable value of a trusted trainer's instant feedback.
FEEDBACK
Here's what an algorithm can't see: the subtle compensation pattern you're developing in your squat because your hip is tight from yesterday's run. The way you're holding tension in your traps during a deadlift. The mental barrier you're hitting that has nothing to do with physical capability.
A skilled trainer reads these signals in real-time, adjusting movement, modifying intensity, and providing the kind of nuanced guidance that requires years of experience and genuine human observation. As I’ve written before: training is a two-way conversation and it’s more effective with a human who has your back. In fact, I've read research that indicates that using your phone while working out actually reduces performance due to distraction.
CONNECTION
The Les Mills report also points to something else: connection. The relationship between trainer and client creates accountability that no phone or watch notification can match. It builds trust that makes you willing to push harder (or scale it back for the day), try new things, and stay consistent when motivation dips.
And training in a group setting transforms fitness from a solitary activity into a shared journey. Your trainers and your gym community ask you how you’re doing, celebrate your wins, lift your mood, and, in many cases, let you leave your stresses at the door.
THERE IS A PLACE FOR TECH
This doesn't mean technology has no place in fitness. Smart tools can track progress and provide valuable data (though I have seen people become overly attached to their wearables). But the Les Mills report suggests that the future of fitness isn't about replacing humans with AI, it's about empowering trainers with better tools while keeping human connection at the center.
As we move forward, the gyms and fitness professionals who thrive will be those who recognize that their greatest competitive advantage isn't the latest equipment or app, but the quality of human interaction they provide. It's the trainer who remembers that you're training for your first 5K or you want to really turn heads at your class reunion. Or the workout pal that notices you're off your game before you even warm up.
In a world increasingly dominated by screens and algorithms, we know this: some things are better "human."
