Artificial Intelligence (AI) seems to be everywhere but somehow sprung up out of nowhere. 

Many people don’t realise it, you’re already using AI tools every day! From Spotify to Google Maps, AI makes life easier. So it’s a smart idea to bring this fast, effective technology into your gym and gain some hours back in your week.

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

AI is a technology that makes computers think like humans. By simulating the way we think, it can solve problems, generate information and create human-like results. 

You’re interacting with AI when you talk to Siri or Alexa. When Amazon recommends products for you – that’s AI too. Oh and the image recognition to unlock your phone, you guessed it – AI!

AI tools are being used across many industries including:

  • Finance – AI detects fraud alerting financial companies to unusual activity.
  • Health – From virtual nursing assistants to analysing medical imagery, AI is looking after us all.
  • Social Media – Instagram, Tik Tok and Facebook all use AI to provide a feed they think you’ll want to see.
  • Transport – AI in self-driving cars navigates roads, identifies obstacles, and makes real-time decisions.

Around 72% of Australian businesses are already using some form of AI within their organisation.

AI technology has been around since the 1950s, so it’s far from new. But the excitement around AI today stems from its new potential, power and accessibility. 

Since 2021, AI tools have become easily accessible, thanks to AI-powered virtual assistants, powerful language models, and loads of open-source AI software. They’ve also been integrated into everyday apps. This mix has democratised AI development, changing the way we work, communicate, and access information.                                                                                           

Generative AI, like ChatGPT, is a type of artificial intelligence that can create text, images, and other content based on input prompts. From writing a blog post to providing exceptional customer service, AI is now performing more and more tasks previously impossible for computers. The possibilities of AI have the whole world curious, excited and somewhat cautious.

Tools like ChatGPT can perform tasks by imitating human creativity and understanding, such as writing, designing, and problem-solving. Not only is this software doing what only humans used to do, but its speed and customisation are transforming how we work and interact with technology.

Thanks to AI tools, gyms can now achieve higher efficiency, improve member engagement, and gain a competitive edge in the fitness industry. Let’s explore how to maximise the benefits of AI.

AI’s Impact on the Fitness Industry

If your first interaction with ChatGPT, sounded something like “Write a social media caption” you’re not alone. Because everyone was talking about how fast these AI tools were, we all jumped in expecting minimal input and incredible results.

But like any goal, to hit your target, you need to put in a little effort. 

Effective prompt writing in 3 steps:

  1. Start by telling the AI tool what role you want it to play. 
  2. Provide relevant information such as the target audience, where the content will be used, the goal for the content, and the writing style and tone.
  3. Write in detail the task you want it to perform. (Leave out any unnecessary information to avoid the AI tool getting lost or confused.)
  4. Use your manners. (We’ve found AI tools work much better when you say please and thank you. Even robots need a little kindness in their day!)

Once you know how to write effective prompts, you can have ChatGPT pumping out on-brand content much faster than hiring a social manager (and at a fraction of the cost).

Get on-brand results from ChatGPT faster

Tip

Use a detailed prompt combined with a solid understanding of your brand for top-notch AI results.

AI’s potential goes far beyond creating affordable content faster. AI is being used in fitness businesses to:

  • streamline onboarding processes
  • personalise training programs
  • customise nutrition plans
  • provide personalised customer service
  • analyse business performance
  • create gym strategies

Plus so much more!

Enhancing Your Gym Experience with AI

Bringing AI tools into your gym provides a smoother service for your clients while saving you time, money and energy. Let’s look at the top four ways to make AI work for your gym.

  1. Onboarding members. Standard onboarding processes usually involve an email being sent to new clients as soon as they join your gym. But how often do new clients miss that email or read it and then forget to complete the forms? Say goodbye to chasing up new members with an AI chatbot. This chatbot will guide new members through every step, setting them up for success and making their first experience ultra-smooth. This also cuts down on the amount of admin time you need to chase them up and check they’ve completed all the necessary processes.
  1. Creating content. Getting ChatGPT to write a blog post, sales emails or plan a reel saves you so much time and the dreaded blank page. For the best results, ask AI to smash out a first draft, get a human to edit it then let AI polish it off. Where humans and AI work together is where the magic happens!
  1. Personalising training. AI doesn’t need a nap, get bored or overwhelmed when analysing data so it’s perfect for handling all the details and notes about your clients. From biometric information to their mood, AI looks at everything happening for your client to suggest the best training or nutrition options based on your coaching preferences.
  1. Analysing business performance. One of the most underestimated tasks ChatGPT can complete for you is analysing data. From reviewing your social media marketing campaign to digging into your financial performance, you can ask ChatGPT to perform a SWOT analysis, find gaps, suggest tweaks and help you get clear on what’s working in your gym.

Must-Have AI Tools to Boost Your Gym’s Performance

Generative AI creates new content such as text, images, and videos based on input prompts. 

Use these tools to generate marketing content, personalised workout plans, and even interactive member communications to boost engagement and operational efficiency.

  • ChatGPT – Generates personalised content for marketing, member communications, and educational materials.
  • Canva – Almost every business owner has Canva in their tech toolkit. This powerhouse software keeps adding more design options and now uses generative AI in their magic Design tool. We also love their Magic Write tool for turning bland templates into on-brand content sure to wow your audience. Canva also gives you access to loads of apps like Dall-E, a generative AI image creator.
  • Jasper –  A favourite of copywriters and content creators, Jasper’s ability to change tone of voice and writing style makes whipping up content so much easier. 

These tools leverage generative AI to create dynamic, engaging content that can boost member interaction and streamline marketing efforts. 

Chatbots interact with your audience and clients by asking and answering questions. They can be embedded into your website, linked to your social media accounts and even make or receive phone calls for you. 

They can schedule appointments, provide information about services, and even handle membership inquiries. Some popular chatbot platforms include:

  • VoiceFlow – A versatile platform for creating conversational AI experiences, allowing for custom voice and chat interactions.
  • ManyChat – A user-friendly tool for building chatbots on platforms like Facebook Messenger, helping automate customer service and engagement.
  • Fastbots.ai – A phone enquiry chatbot, it handles all the common questions your gym members and leads have, helps them book classes, and provides fast, friendly answers any time of day or night. These chatbots can chat in over 90 languages, making it super easy to communicate with members in their native tongue.

Conversational AI gives us AI-powered Virtual Assistants. These fast, reliable bots help gym members and staff with various tasks – including scheduling, answering queries, and providing instant support. Set them up to streamline your operations and enhance member experiences.

  • Google Assistant – Trust Google to have an AI assistant! This tech giant’s conversational AI helps you manage appointments and answers common questions.
  • Conversica – Specialises in revenue-generating business conversations to boost client engagement, sales conversions and more.

Navigating Risks and Maximising Benefits

While we love AI and its many potential benefits for gym management and client personalisation, there are some challenges and potential pitfalls to be aware of. 

One significant concern is data privacy and security. You must ensure any AI tools you use comply with data protection regulations and have robust security measures to safeguard member information. 

Also, AI systems can sometimes produce biased or inaccurate recommendations if not properly monitored and updated. To avoid this, you’ll need to regularly review the AI-generated outputs and fact-check them to ensure they meet your brand’s high standards of quality and fairness.

By staying vigilant about these issues and actively managing AI tools, you’ll leverage this groundbreaking technology’s benefits while minimising risks. 

Regular training for your staff on AI usage and data handling is also a wise idea. This will help you maintain a secure and effective integration of AI into your gym operations.

FREE ChatGPT Prompts for Your Gym

We’ve got just what you need to help you team up with AI tools today. Grab your free ChatGPT Prompts!

ChatGPT prompts for gyms

Wrap Up

With all the AI tech hype, it’s easy to feel left behind.

But we’ve got great news for you – it’s still the early adopter phase of this technology wave, which means if you start using AI now, you’re already ahead!

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by Xplor Gym

  • First published: 22 August 2024

    Written by: Xplor Gym