Gym Goers Reject AI Coaching – And It’s the Young Who Lead the Resistance

As per the Les Mills 2026 Global Fitness Report

Les Mills just released its 2026 Global Fitness Report, surveying over 10,000 people worldwide. The headline finding is that only 10% prefer AI workouts to having a human trainer. Oddly, it’s the youngsters who are most resistant to digital coaching.

The numbers are surprising.

When asked about human versus AI fitness content, 52% said they either strongly prefer or lean toward human trainers. Another 37% sat on the fence. So, that’s one in ten actively wanting a non-human to tell them what to do!

But drill down, and the detail gets interesting. You’d expect Gen Z, who have been raised with their smartphones, to be the biggest technophiles. They’re not. Among 16-to 27-year-olds, only 11% prefer AI-generated content. Looking at older demographics, like the 28-40-year-olds, it drops to 9%. But turning to the older age group, it’s a slightly different story with the over-55s most keen on AI coaching at 13%.

Humans win – For now.

The report authors are perhaps biased, but cite the magic that only a live class can offer; the collective energy pushes everyone to work harder and enjoy it more.

Nothing beats the buzz of a live class. These findings show we remain social animals when it comes to working out. [B. Hastings, Head of Research, Les Mills]

Perhaps also the live classes foster physical human connection in a community-like way, and simply one of those times we can spend with friends and like-minded people, going against the trend that we’re spending 70% less time with friends than we did a decade ago. The AI coach, however sophisticated, is fundamentally a solo experience.

Gymtimidation?

The report also highlights why real guidance matters so much for newcomers, particularly with strength training. 54% of new lifters say conflicting advice leaves them unsure where to begin. Half feel intimidated by the weight area altogether.

This is precisely where a real person makes the difference. It’s okay to not know what you’re doing if someone is helping you learn the ropes.

So we’re anti-tech in the gym, right?

The report isn’t anti-tech and confirms that people happily use apps and wearables to track their progress.

The current distinction might simply reflect the strength of tech and humans in 2025-26. Tech excels at measuring and tracking, whereas humans excel at motivation, adaptation, and creating enjoyable experiences. At least for now.

Hastings adds “Technology is shaping fitness in countless ways, but nothing beats the buzz of a live class.”

Other bits worth knowing

The report throws up a few other nuggets:

• 54% of people want to try new ways to get fit – good news for anyone launching fresh workout formats.
• 41% still see fitness as a chore – suggesting there’s massive room to make exercise more enjoyable.
• Gym members are 46% more likely to report being “very happy” with their overall wellness compared to non-members.
• 62% of Gen Z and Millennials like workouts that push their limits – they just want a human doing the pushing.

What this actually means

AI might already be transforming endurance training and, more widely in society, how we write emails and diagnose illness. It’s transformed the written word. It’s also already transformed the spoken word, covering areas as diverse as translation and automated podcast generation. But video has not been transformed at scale, and hence the human likeness has not been transformed at scale – unreleased AI models are about a year ahead of those we get to play with. It’s only a matter of time. A short matter of time before your favourite YouTube channel or favourite gym instructor is replaced by a FAR cheaper alternative.

When I saw the report’s title, I hoped it would delve deeper into wearable tech in the gym. It didn’t. I’ve long thought that gym tech is an ocean of mediocrity with the odd splash of excellence, e.g., Roxfit or Bevel. Gym tech just hasn’t properly automated sets and muscular physiology, and feels quite a long way from doing so.

We remain, as the research reminds us, social animals and, as I would contend, cognitively lazy animals who want our lives made easier. There are opportunities there – social and laziness-based – for companies to make money over the next few years.

Source: Les Mills 2026 Global Fitness Report. Download the full report free from Les Mills Insight Hub

Last Updated on 27 January 2026 by the5krunner

the5krunner

tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors.