I tried a new AI-powered robot massage in Minnesota
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The massage felt more relaxing than it looks. Photo: Torey Van Oot/Axios
When I first walked into the spa treatment room I wondered whether I had made a terrible mistake.
- Even in the glow of a Himalayan salt lamp, my "massage therapist" was giving high-tech dental chair vibes, with spindly white arms protruding from a padded table.
But in the name of journalism — and unknotting my perpetually tight shoulders — I took a deep breath and settled in for 30 minutes of what I hoped would be relaxation and rejuvenation.
The big picture: Life Time Chanhassen now offers what has been billed as one of the first AI-powered robot massages in Minnesota.
- It's one of a growing number of ways robots are being deployed to take on traditionally human-powered tasks, from food delivery to senior care.
How it works: Club members and outside guests can book appointments online for massages lasting from 15 to 60 minutes. One 30-minute session costs $60, about $15 less than Life Time's closest treatment performed by a human.
What to expect: Instead of stripping down to skivvies (or nothing at all), users change into a form-fitting top and leggings provided by Life Time.
- After I laid down, the machine's touch screen walked me through set up instructions, like adjusting the headrest, and completed a full body scan.
- Those same sensors prompt the robot to pause if you move out of place, which I did when I craned my neck and arm back to try to take a selfie.
How it went: While the hands didn't feel quite like the real thing, they were remarkably human-like and warm.
- Much like a normal massage, I could feel tension melt away as it kneaded my back and glutes. Settings like pressure, speed and music (I chose a mix called "Low-Fi") are adjustable with a tap of the screen.
Friction points: Staring at the tablet strained my eyes. And I found a section showing where the robotic masseuse was working — and a countdown of time left in that zone — distracting.
- I switched to a more relaxing backdrop, with falling raindrops, though blank is also an option.
Zoom out: Life Time's LifeSpa category director Erin Hickey told me the technology, which comes from a company called Aescape, was appealing since it fit into the broader focus on physical recovery for members at the high-end fitness club.
- "The fact you can stay clothed, adjust your massage real time, choose your duration, makes it really appealing for really busy lifestyles," she said.
The result: The club, one of four Life Time locations nationwide piloting the massage robots this year, has booked over 600 robot sessions since launching the service this spring.
The intrigue: Life Time has seen an overall uptick in spa business since adding the feature, Hickey said.
The bottom line: An Aescape massage can't yet replicate a full-on spa experience. But University of Minnesota research professor Vassilios Morellas, whose work focuses on training robots to make human-like gestures, told me that it'll keep getting closer.
- "They can only become better by incorporating more sensors to get a more complete massage experience," he said.