Peloton is making its biggest hardware bet in years with a complete equipment refresh and the launch of Peloton IQ, an AI-powered service that uses computer vision to track movement and provide real-time form feedback. The Cross Training series features swivel screens and upgraded processors across bikes, treadmills, and rowing machines, signaling the struggling fitness company's push to recapture relevance in the post-pandemic market.
Peloton just threw everything at the wall in its biggest product launch since the pandemic boom - and it might actually stick. The fitness company that became synonymous with lockdown lifestyle pivots is betting its recovery on AI-powered personal training and a complete hardware overhaul that arrives as the industry watches whether home fitness can stage a sustainable comeback.
The centerpiece is Peloton IQ, an AI service that uses computer vision to track your movements during workouts and provide real-time form corrections. It's paired with the new Cross Training series that puts swivel screens on every piece of equipment, letting users seamlessly switch between cardio sessions and floor exercises without missing a beat. According to Peloton chief product officer Nick Caldwell in an interview with WIRED, "movement tracking at this level of specificity is unique to Peloton."
That claim isn't entirely accurate - Tonal offers similar tracking for strength training, and systems like the Speediance Gym Monster combine cardio with weight lifting. But Peloton's betting on something different: the integration of its celebrity instructor ecosystem with advanced movement analysis across multiple workout types.
The new hardware lineup spans five machines, from the $1,695 Cross Training Bike to the $6,695 Tread+. All models feature upgraded processors, enhanced Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and improved audio systems. The premium Plus models add the movement tracking camera, Sonos-tuned speakers with woofers, hands-free voice control, and built-in fans.
What makes this launch significant isn't just the technology - it's the timing. Under CEO Peter Stern, who joined from Ford and Apple, Peloton's stock has slowly climbed over the past year as the company worked to shed its reputation as an "oblivious elitist status symbol" and reposition itself as accessible fitness tech.
The AI component builds heavily on lessons from Peloton's failed 2022 Guide camera system. Peloton IQ incorporates features from the company's Strength+ app, which already supports self-directed workout plans guided by instructor-led classes. Users can customize everything from weight categories to specific movements, swap exercises from Peloton's library, and choose between watching themselves for real-time feedback or following an instructor demonstration.
