On a beach in North Tyneside, fitness instructor David Fairlamb is putting nearly 40 people of all ages through their paces in a group training session.
He has worked in the fitness industry for 30 years – long before social media, let alone artificial intelligence.
Fairlamb, 54, believes AI has its place in fitness programmes and nutrition, but says it cannot fully replace real-life coaching.
« You cannot beat that real person, that real connection, the accountability, » he says.
When shown the AI‑generated adverts that breached advertising rules, his reaction is immediate.
« It’s so wrong. It’s so misleading. And it’s so worrying for younger kids, » he says.
« These ads talk about 28‑day transformations. I’ve been doing this for 30 years and I’m telling you now – that just doesn’t happen. You’ve got no chance. »
Fairlamb recently started working alongside his daughter Georgia Sybenga, 25, who says even people who grew up around social media struggle to tell what is real.
« Sometimes I question it myself, » she says. « Some of them, you really can’t tell. »
Both worry a constant exposure to idealised, artificial bodies can damage confidence – particularly among young people.
« They think ‘I could look like that in 30 days’, » Fairlamb says. « But that body might not even be real. For young lads, for their mental health, it’s really concerning. »
Sybenga also warns AI‑generated fitness programmes do not have the full picture.
« It doesn’t take into consideration injuries or health conditions, so… you could injure yourself, » she says.
Source:
www.bbc.com
