Every year, Time magazine publishes a list of the best inventions of the year, and this year is no exception.

At the end of October, Time selected 200 of the most creative inventions of 2023, and in addition to the well-known ChatGPT, there is also a boxing punching bag named "Bhout" on this list.

This is the first boxing punching bag with artificial intelligence and equipped with a 3D visual camera, which can measure the accuracy, power, speed, and technique of each strike in less than 250 milliseconds.

Bhout's founder and CEO, Mauro Frota, said he hopes to gamify fitness boxing with artificial intelligence, rather than it being just another task on a to-do list. Let's first learn about Mauro Frota's story.

01. "Thinking" Boxing Punching Bag

Mauro Frota graduated in Sports Science from Lisbon and has over 22 years of experience in the fitness industry. He has received martial arts training, starting from traditional karate, then moving on to taekwondo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and finally mixed martial arts.

In 2019, Frota began leading his team in research and development. In the summer of 2021, Frota opened the first Bhout Fitness Boxing Club in Lisbon, which quickly gained followers. In just two years, Bhout has attracted over 600 clients, with over 70% of the members being female.

Now, Frota plans to expand by selling Bhout to other fitness operators such as gyms, corporate offices, and hotels, and hopes to open more studios in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Recently, Bhout announced a €10 million seed round investment. "We are very excited about this milestone, especially because it is one of the largest seed rounds for a FitTech startup," he wrote. "The celebration is over, it's time to go back and do something special."

Frota hopes to combine fitness, gaming, and artificial intelligence to develop the first "thinking" boxing punching bag. Frota also confirmed that an AI coach is in development, teaching AI-guided techniques and data development.

02. Not Just a Fitness Punching Bag, But Also a Game

As the world's first AI-supported "punching bag," Bhout uses machine learning to constantly "challenge and motivate you," and can even match your fighting intensity with your mood. However, Bhout Bag's standout feature is not only its fitness function as a punching bag, but also its unique features and advantages.

AI "Punching Bag"

After six years of design and development, the upgraded Bhout Bag is like a real human body, with each layer highly similar to body tissues such as muscles, bones, and skin. The outer layer is made of organic material (cactus without thorns) to simulate human skin; the inner core is made up of 85% water, with the water core bag absorbing vibrations, and high-density foam surrounding the water core to ensure the safety of each impact.

The Bhout Bag also supports 180º rotation, allowing exercisers to engage in all-round strength training. Sensors on the bag can calculate the power and position of each impact and generate data, allowing exercisers to improve their workouts through the app. In addition, exercisers can use the app to create suitable training programs and even generate a "boxing map" to show the most hit positions on the bag.

Gamified Fitness

Many Generation Z consumers are tired of traditional fitness concepts and expect to enjoy fitness in games and entertainment. Therefore, health and fitness brands have been working hard to change the way consumers engage in fitness activities. Unfortunately, the current augmented reality (AR) boxing experiences on the market do not meet the reality of combat, and virtual boxing experiences cannot meet consumer needs.

Clearly, Bhout has recognized this issue, and its realistic feel and data-driven approach provide consumers with a unique gamified fitness experience, perfectly integrating fitness and gaming.

Inspired by video games, Bhout Bag has matched different colors and music combinations for each training and intensity, which helps to increase player motivation. The Bhout app also includes competitive rankings and tracking, allowing Bhouters to start a new "battle" anytime, anywhere.

For every completed STRK routine, Bhouters can earn Jab$, a blockchain-supported token—a true "sweat-earning" reward system. Its unique competitive mechanism further motivates exercisers to participate more, allowing them to earn tokens and rewards within the Bhout app while exercising.

In addition, Bhouters can become trainers and earn tokens from the community. It provides an open platform for content creators in the fitness industry, allowing them to reach new customers in new ways through the platform. From boxing, mixed martial arts, Muay Thai, to non-combat games that exercise coordination and speed, STRK Routines provide users with endless opportunities to connect with the community.

By integrating AI technology and gaming elements, Bhout has provided the fitness equipment industry with a disruptive innovation opportunity, creating a unique intelligent and gamified fitness experience for every fitness enthusiast.

03. Do Smart Fitness Products Meet People's Expectations?

Indeed, smart fitness products have been in the spotlight in recent years. However, can they really meet people's expectations behind the hype?

From leading fitness bloggers to the rise and fall of smart fitness equipment, and the intervention of OpenAI, the development of smart fitness products has experienced ups and downs.

Fitness Equipment Gathering Dust?

Thanks to the widespread popularity of well-known fitness bloggers such as Pamela, keywords such as "fat loss" and "body shaping" frequently appear on social media platforms. Many netizens have started to purchase yoga mats, dumbbells, elliptical machines, and other home fitness equipment, eager to create their own fitness corner at home to achieve their body management goals. Especially during the pandemic, many people have started to create a "home fitness freedom" and even purchased a complete set of fitness equipment.

However, reality often falls short of ideals, and "short-lived enthusiasm" has become the status quo for most people.

On the one hand, the initial intention of exercising and purchasing various fitness equipment was to plant the seeds; on the other hand, for various reasons, it was difficult to find the appropriate time and space at home to fully utilize these equipment. Therefore, after the shopping frenzy, the passion for fitness gradually faded in real life, and the purchased fitness equipment became deserted "dust-collecting" items.

AI Enters the Fitness Field

Traditional fitness equipment is often considered heavy and cumbersome, best used in professional settings and under professional guidance. Therefore, the new intervention of smart fitness products undoubtedly injects new vitality into this field. In addition to established companies such as Keep, some emerging fitness methods have also begun to emerge, such as the German brand ICAROS, which has introduced its "gamified fitness" concept with VR motorcycle fitness and products like the Planet Fitness machine.

Not only that, more than 10 companies such as FITURE, Gu Dong FITMORE, and others have entered the market of the fitness unicorn Peloton, launching a series of smart fitness products covering fitness mirrors, smart fitness wearables, and other areas.

Maigoo: Top 10 Smart Fitness Mirror Rankings

In this trend, one of the biggest AI dark horse companies of the year, OpenAI, has also joined the camp of smart fitness products. In its product launched in collaboration with WHOOP, users can enjoy highly personalized health advice and exercise programs generated by the GPT-4 system, making the fitness process more tailored to individual needs.

In this competitive environment, Bhout not only pioneered "AI + boxing" but also established offline boxing training centers in the early stages. With the continuous improvement of the AI system and rich fitness content, Bhout and other AI fitness products may become leaders in the intelligent living space.

04. Towards a Rational Era of Smart Fitness?

It must be acknowledged that with the integration of AI technology, the fitness industry is undergoing unprecedented changes.

Forbes data shows that the smart fitness market is expected to reach nearly $43 billion by 2027. This means that people's expectations for smart fitness equipment and products continue to persist. And this is just the beginning; in the future, new products such as weightlifting equipment and exercise classes may emerge in the market.

Whether it's the innovation of "AI + boxing" or the emergence of more robot trainers, smart fitness is leading us towards a rational and dynamic era.

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