The Atlantic CEO Nicholas Thompson just revealed he's been secretly training with a custom GPT that knows his every workout, race history, and training pattern. The former WIRED editor built his AI coach by uploading years of Strava data and race results, using it to answer questions like "Should I delay my 5-mile workout to Thursday?" The revelation comes as Thompson releases his new book about running, showcasing how AI is quietly revolutionizing personal fitness optimization beyond the typical corporate applications.
Nicholas Thompson has been running to work for years, but now he's got artificial intelligence running his training plans too. The Atlantic CEO just dropped a bombshell during a WIRED podcast interview - he's been using a custom GPT as his personal running coach, feeding it everything from workout logs to race histories to optimize his performance.
"I have a custom GPT," Thompson revealed to WIRED's Katie Drummond. "I've uploaded all my workouts. I've uploaded all my previous races. I tried to upload all my Strava logs. I've given it as much information as I can." The system works as his virtual coaching staff, answering questions like whether to delay workouts or adjust training schedules based on his complete athletic profile.
The AI coaching revelation comes as Thompson releases "The Running Ground," a book documenting his journey from decent recreational runner to holding the American 50K record for his age group. But it's his practical use of AI that's catching attention in tech circles, especially as companies rush to find real-world applications for large language models beyond workplace productivity.
Thompson's custom GPT represents something different from the typical ChatGPT interactions most people know. By uploading years of personal training data, race results, and performance metrics, he's created what amounts to a personalized fitness advisor that understands his specific patterns, limitations, and goals. "I don't have a coach I work with, so I have an AI coach. I use it all the time," he explained.
The approach mirrors what elite athletes get from human coaches - pattern recognition across vast amounts of performance data, contextual decision-making about training adjustments, and personalized advice based on historical performance. But Thompson's doing it with AI at a fraction of the cost and with 24/7 availability.
This isn't just about running faster. Thompson's marathon times dropped dramatically in his 40s, from consistent 2:40-something finishes to a blazing 2:29 - improvements that typically don't happen as runners age. While he credits elite Nike coaches for much of that breakthrough, his AI system now helps maintain and optimize that performance level.
