The Human Advantage: How AI Is Reshaping – Not Replacing – Personal Training

December 5, 2025

Artificial intelligence has moved from novelty to infrastructure in less than three years. It now shows up in everything from watch faces to workout apps, and it has inevitably raised a question inside our industry: Will AI replace personal trainers?

ISSA’s 2025 “Human Advantage” survey of 90 students and graduates, combined with external labor, technology, and consumer research, points to a clear answer: AI is transforming the work of trainers, but it is not replacing them. It is amplifying the value of certified professionals.

These insights sit against a strong macro backdrop. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of fitness trainers and instructors to grow 12% between 2024 and 2034, far outpacing the 3.1% growth expected across all occupations. At the same time, the global AI personal trainer market is forecast to nearly double from roughly $16.9 billion in 2025 to over $35 billion by 2030, a compound annual growth rate of about 16%. ISSA