Last week I tried my very first AI massage. Although I’d had a traditional massage before, I wasn’t sure how to feel about the idea of having two robotic arms pressed against my back instead of a human one. Will this make me feel in control and comfortable? Or will it feel—dare I say it—robotic and unpersonalized?
To find out, I stopped by Aescape’s Chelsea office in New York. I changed into tight athletic leggings and a long-sleeve shirt and met with CEO Eric Litman, who founded the company in 2017 to treat his chronic upper back and neck pain.
“There’s something really special about the interaction between what humans can do to help robots understand people better and then help better improve our lives,” Litman tells me on the spot. “Just you and the table. You are in complete control of what happens.”
Alexa Mikhail via Fortune
Robotic massage
Litman led me past rows of company tables and into one of their massage rooms, which mimicked a spa with dim lighting and soothing tones, although instead of a masseuse, there were two long white robotic arms hovering above the table. Litman told me that sensors above me would photograph a 3D model of my body and then tailor the massage to my shape. “It knows exactly which parts of the body like different types of pressure,” says Litman, who receives AI-assisted massages several times a week just steps from his desk.
I lay face down, set the music genre—choosing from a variety of soft piano tunes and even heavy metal—and switched the pressure of the automatic arms. Litman worked with orthopedic surgeons and massage therapists, who he said helped the team understand how much power the machine would have. “They were specifically designed not to be as strong. They’re strong enough to give a great massage, but they’re not stronger or capable of hurting you,” he says, adding that if I press the big red button in the center of the screen, the massage will stop and the hands will move away from me.
Luck
As the massage began, I saw on the screen below me automatic hands in real time moving from my upper back to my lower back. I set the machine to natural sounds and began to increase the pressure. I ended up leaving it at 100%, which felt strong but not overwhelming.
Using artificial intelligence in the spa
Seven years ago, Litman began exploring how AI could penetrate the health and wellness space as the proliferation of high-tech wellness offerings entered the scene.
After several iterations and testing on more than 5,000 people, the company received $80 million in funding to launch the world’s first fully automatic massage machine on March 13, thanks in part to investor and NBA player Kevin Love, who uses the product. As far as Litman knows, this is the first robotic device of this scale designed for the closest contact with a person. Aescape is launching in partnership with 10 Equinox gyms in New York City, offering 30-minute massages for $60. The company plans to have 600 operating tables in hotels, workplaces and sports teams by the end of the year, Litman says in our After My Experience interview.
Ideal client? This is anyone who needs to “recover from life,” says Litman. Consumers will range from health optimizers to sedentary executives. “People are becoming much more conscious of taking care of themselves and realizing that we live longer together,” he says, hoping to make recovery an integral part of health rather than just a pastime.
Luck
In response to the most obvious criticism of what happens when we lose human touch and connection during massage, Litman says it’s simple. It does not attempt to recreate or replace the standard internally $19 billion massage therapy industry. Instead, he said, some may feel unable to protect themselves after a traditional massage or feel discomfort when undressing. Being able to control your blood pressure can ease any hesitation in speaking out, says Litman, who also sees his product as an addition to the spa industry amid a significant shortage of masseuses in the United States.
He also envisions a future in which therapists will use AI in their practice. “I think that over time, as people in general become more comfortable using automated services and solutions in their lives, even those who enjoy being treated by therapists will enjoy what we do,” he says.
There is no doubt that after the 30 minute massage I felt more rejuvenated and relaxed. I appreciated being able to control the experience and not feel like it distracted me from the moment. Sometimes I even forgot that I was alone in the room. However, it will be interesting to see if AI massage can compete with a human masseuse who can discuss your concerns and adapt her technique accordingly. I would be interested in trying a hybrid approach in the future, where AI wellness suggestions are accompanied by human therapists.
“The idea is that it’s familiar. It’s convenient,” says Litman. And yet: “This is different.”