Have you ever considered what gyms might look like in the future? Contrary to the assumption that fitness centers will remain untouched by artificial intelligence, a new initiative has been launched by the Abu Dhabi Department of Health called the ‘Gym of the Future.’ This innovative digital wellness concept was introduced on the opening day of Abu Dhabi Global Health Week.
“Our goal is to empower individuals to lead longer, healthier lives. We want to ensure that older adults can maintain an active lifestyle,” stated Ibrahim Al Jallaf, the executive director of digital health at the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi.
The experience begins as soon as someone walks through the gym’s doors. Sophisticated sensors identify the individual and create a digital twin by utilizing information from the ‘Sahatna’ app, which serves as Abu Dhabi’s health and wellness management platform.
This digital profile enables the system to develop a customized exercise program tailored to the person’s unique needs and health information. Once the personalized plan is established, users can kick off their workouts. For example, a treadmill in this futuristic gym is fitted with a built-in camera that tracks heart rate, suggests workout duration, ensures proper posture, and provides immediate feedback to the user. All collected data is logged in the ‘Sahatna’ app for ongoing monitoring.
Post-workout, users receive an assessment to evaluate any muscle or tendon strain through AI-powered X-rays and CT scans. By simply positioning themselves in front of a scanner, individuals can access real-time images of targeted body parts, such as calves or hands, accompanied by instant analysis to identify potential concerns.
Next comes nutrition. An AI nutrition advisor gives tailored meal suggestions based on past data and current energy requirements. This feature is designed to enhance recovery and performance, focusing on individual meal planning. Ultimately, the user’s journey concludes with another evaluation, providing an updated overview that includes the most recent data from the day’s activities, completing the personalized experience.
Al Jallaf emphasized, “Promoting longevity is essential in every aspect. When we refer to the gym of the future, we are not solely speaking about a conventional gym. It’s a vision for how to encourage more healthy behaviors and improve nutrition across society. These elements are crucial for enhancing longevity and increasing average life expectancy.”