What should your next fitness goal be? Take the quiz.

Peloton The Output Logo
TrainRecoverLevel UpConnectShopOpen in new Tab
Train
  • Bike
  • Row
  • Run
  • Sculpt
  • Strength Train
  • Beginners
  • Yoga
  • Cardio
Recover
  • Nutrition
  • Meditation
  • Sleep
  • Stretching + Mobility
Level Up
  • Mindset
  • Mental Health
  • Health
  • Marathon + Racing
  • Equipment
Connect
  • Member Tips
  • Member Stories
  • Meet Instructors
  • Inspiration
  • Member News

Shop Peloton

App

Peloton App

Try 30 days free
Arrow
Treads

Treadmills

Shop Now
Arrow
Bikes

Bikes

Shop Now
Arrow
Social
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterCopy link to clipboardShare via email
Shop Peloton
peloton guide machine learning
  1. Home

    Arrow
  2. Connect

    Arrow
  3. Member Tips

What Powers Peloton Guide?

Thanks to machine learning, our innovative strength device is constantly improving.

By Samantha Lande•Updated 11 October 2022

  • Member News

Share:

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterCopy link to clipboardShare via email

Shop Peloton

Peloton App

Peloton App

Try 30 days free
Arrow
Peloton Tread

Treadmills

Shop now
Arrow
Peloton Bike

Bikes

Shop now
Arrow

You’ve probably heard that Peloton Guide, our dynamic TV-connected strength device, uses artificial intelligence to help Members level up their fitness game with personalized metrics, rep tracking, recommended classes, and more. The cool thing about machine learning is that it continually learns over time, meaning that as you improve, Guide is improving with you.

Still, you may be wondering how exactly Peloton Guide knows what you’re doing and how artificial intelligence is driving it. That’s why we talked to the people that know it best: Sanjay Nichani, vice president of artificial intelligence and computer vision, and Ben Schultz, director of product management, both on the Peloton Guide team. Read on to learn more about the technology that helps take your strength workouts to the next level.

What is machine learning?

Machine learning is complex, but in its simplest terms, it’s a form of artificial intelligence that uses data to learn an outcome. It continuously gets better by identifying patterns in the data and adjusting to what it learns.

So in the case of Peloton Guide, the data that’s being looked at is images of people working out, Nichani says. A machine sees a certain pose or movement and it understands it’s the image of the pose. This feeds into the data set.

“The program is figuring out the mapping of an input to an output based on the data,” Nichani adds. “You are relying on learning from the data.”

Once Peloton Guide sees enough image examples, it learns the mapping and is able to track Member movements.

The beauty of this type of technology is that because it’s constantly learning, it has the ability to grow into other modalities (think barre or pilates!) in the future.

“With Peloton Guide, we are focused on providing a great strength experience and acknowledging the hard work our members do,” Schultz says.

Explore Peloton Guide

How does the machine get its data?

“First and foremost, Peloton Guide is not watching you and collecting your data,” says Schultz.

Instead, Peloton Guide is informed by a number of different data sources, all unrelated to Peloton Members. “We videotape people in a controlled environment from different angles—think head on or to the side—so the machine can get a more holistic view,” he explains. This helps the team train the Movement Tracker algorithms to understand the distance people may be from their camera, the height of the camera, and their positioning.

They also look at a ton of environmental factors like lighting, various workout environments, and equipment. Finally they think about Member attributes, body composition, clothing, and fitness levels to help teach the machine. And they do pull from Member feedback (so make sure to give those thumbs up or thumbs downs after class!) and investigate error messages (such as if a body isn’t in the frame or if a pet runs through the background while you’re working out).

There are lots of factors to consider, but the more diverse data Peloton Guide receives, the better it will do in the future.

If I modify a movement, does the machine understand that?

Think about, say, a push-up. Many people modify it by doing s on their knees, while others might have to adjust the movement in other ways based on their physical abilities. The Peloton Guide team wants to make sure they still get credit for that. That’s why they’ve been teaching the machine both the full expression of a movement as well as variations on that movement.

Plus, the team is working on additional ways to help Members who have different workout abilities and fitness levels find the right classes.

Is there anything Members can do to help Peloton Guide get smarter?

Setting your space up for success will help your Peloton Guide recognize and give you credit for all of that hard strength work. If possible, try to ensure the room is well lit with the lighting coming from the same direction as the camera. It also helps if your workout clothes aren’t the same color as your walls, so there’s some contrast. The camera should be level with a neutral angle view (below the upper chest). And if at all possible, set Peloton Guide up in a space where you won’t have people moving in and out of the room while you complete your workout.

Stay tuned for more Peloton Guide updates as it continues to improve! And in the meantime, read on to learn more about how Guide has helped our Members grow stronger.

This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute individualized advice. It is not intended to replace professional medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Seek the advice of your physician for questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. If you are having a medical emergency, call your physician or 911 immediately.

Share:

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterCopy link to clipboardShare via email

Shop and Learn

  • Home Trial
  • Membership
  • Financing
  • Instructors
  • Peloton for Business

About

  • Our Story
  • Team
  • Careers
  • Press
  • Global
  • Investors
  • Impact & Inclusion

Visit Us

  • Showrooms
  • Booking a Test Class

Support

  • Contact Peloton
  • Member Support Center
  • Return Policy
  • Warranties
  • Shipping
  • Security
  • Consumer Health Data Policy
Sign up to get the latest
Phone1800 952 535HelpVisit Support Center
InstagramYou TubeFacebook
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Membership Terms
  • IP Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Accessibility
  • California Transparency Act
  • Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
  • © Peloton 2012-2023, Peloton Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved.

Sign up Modal Image

Get fitness tips sent straight to your inbox

Let’s keep in touch. Enter your email below to get updates, tips, and articles from Peloton.

By providing your email address, you agree to receive marketing communications from Peloton.

For more about how we use your information, see our Privacy Policy.