- amp fitness, a new AI-powered strength machine, is on display at CES 2025
- It's endorsed by influencers like online strength coach Chris Heria and actor Terry Crews.
- amp officially launches in January 2025
When it comes to fitness, there are all kinds of devices designed to optimize our workouts, improve our health, and shoehorn technology into our otherwise offline physical activities. From the best smartwatches and running watches to the best fitness apps and connected equipment like Peloton, to wacky things like continuous glucose monitors, technology has made its way into our exercise and diet.
However, one area where technology has so far failed to catch on is strength training. Sure, there have been attempts (Technogym's AI-powered dumbbells come to mind), but while outdoor running and cycling got Strava, hiking got AllTrails, and spin classes got Peloton, barbell hasn't yet. seen no real technology-based innovation.
This is because, by its nature, strength training is a primary, offline, natural activity with little room for improvement beyond having a device to count your reps with slight inaccuracy or to plan your next workout. You cannot measure muscle growth with a sensor. There are plenty of apps that help with programming, but in terms of hardware, there's nothing that can really improve strength training beyond perhaps a rest timer.
However, all that may be about to change. Unveiled at this year's CES 2025 conference and available for pre-order now, amp takes the old-school gym cable machine and modernizes it with futuristic design and artificial intelligence. It's a machine that could be the “Peloton moment” of strength training.
It's essentially a sleek-looking, highly adjustable cable machine with a camera and companion app that plugs into the wall of your home. You can choose multiple types of resistance electronically, from an end-to-end static mode to a “band” mode, which starts out weak and gets stronger as you reach the peak of your movement, mimicking the use of resistance bands. You can control the resistance level with a simple dial.
Look
It has challenges and leaderboards to attract gamified Peloton addicts, and programming and follow-up workouts produced in partnership with popular fitness influencers, like YouTube star Chris Heria. A press release states that the device “features an artificial intelligence system that adapts workouts in real time, ensuring users are always challenged and supported on their fitness journey.”
He is endorsed by bodybuilders like Larry Wheels and Brooklyn 99 Actor Terry Crews has also put his (considerable) weight behind it.
There's no denying that it looks good, like a wall-mounted Hydrow (another connected fitness success story). It seems incredibly simple to use, and while I was initially skeptical about the benefits an AI-powered machine could bring to strength training, I can certainly see it being at least a mild success, in a field where other at-home strength exercises Post-COVID Technology has failed miserably to generate excitement. If it had been released in 2019, it probably would have been a huge win.
We can't wait to put it to the test with some proper strength training. The amp will cost $1,795 in the US (around £1,450 / AU$2,900) – not cheap, but certainly cheaper than a Peloton. It's available for pre-order now and will initially launch in the US in early January.
We are covering all the latest news. CES news of the program as it happens. Stay with us for the big stories on everything from 8K From foldable TVs and screens to new phones, laptops, smart home devices and the latest in artificial intelligence.
And don't forget follow us on tiktok For the latest from the CES fair!
