Keto diets, HIIT workouts, injectables, and steam rooms—the wellness and beauty industries have embraced increasingly wide-ranging and diverse trends. Always on the lookout for additional options, actors in these industries have turned to artificial intelligence as a potentially transformative force that could redefine what personalized experiences mean.

Already thus far, AI has been used to tailor personal training programs, eating plans, and beauty routines. But by combining robots, robotic technology, and AI, salons also have come up with a way to provide automated, customized massage therapy. The introductions thus far have been limited to luxury market segments, having first been introduced in Equinox, a chain of high-end gyms.

This source makes sense; Equinox has long prided itself on offering the latest in fitness technology. The introduction of massage robots, developed by a company called Aescape, thus is consistent with its brand image. It also has generated a significant amount of publicity.

The machines use AI to create a detailed map of each user’s body. With infrared sensors, they capture more than a million 3D data points. An algorithm then analyzes these data points to derive a personalized massage plan for that user’s individual body. The robot masseuses provide the massage, in ways that replicate various physical techniques, including the feel of human masseuses’ hands, elbows, and forearms. Users also can control the experience in real-time, using a touchscreen interface to adjust the pressure, switch targeted areas, and alter the ambiance of the room.

The possibilities promised by such an innovation are remarkable. Athletes in particular are likely to appreciate the precision and consistency offered by automatic masseuses. People who have suffered injuries or have chronic conditions that require physical therapy also could gain considerable benefits, because the algorithm can target or avoid specific muscle groups and areas of the body.

As noted, the robots are available only at Equinox gyms, and of those, only in select locations throughout New York City. But considering consumers’ constant quest for more and better wellness, it seems likely that AI-driven services will become a standard offering of high-end wellness providers.

Discussion Questions

1. What are some other wellness services that might benefit from introducing AI-driven technology?
2. What are some of the risks of relying solely on AI technology in massages, without any human intervention?

Sources: Lauretta Charlton, “Are Robot Massages Worth the Hype?” The New York Times, August 9, 2024; Elizabeth Ostertag, “Equinox Locations Add Aescape, a Fully Automated Massage Bed,” Athletech News, March 13, 2024; Iman Balagam, “I Can Confirm Getting an AI Robot Massage Is the Perfect Treatment for Introverts,” Marie Claire, July 26, 2024; OpenAI ChatGPT, “Assistance with Research on AI-Assisted Massage Robots at Equinox,” ChatGPT, August 18, 2024.