AI is making its way into digital coaching, promising 24/7 availability, infinite scalability, and structured guidance. But can it actually coach? Or is it just a sophisticated chatbot repackaged as a coaching tool?

Let’s break down what AI coaches are, what they can (and can’t) do, and how human coaches can integrate AI without compromising the personal touch that makes coaching so transformative.

What Is an AI Coach?

AI coaching tools are digital platforms that use artificial intelligence to simulate a coaching experience. They typically:

• Ask structured questions based on coaching methodologies.
• Offer goal tracking and reminders.
• Analyze responses and generate insights.
• Provide resources, prompts, and journaling exercises.

AI coaches are great for taking over routine tasks that don’t require much customization and being available between sessions for the client. However, they lack the ability to facilitate transformative conversations.

The Limitations of AI Coaches

Artificial intelligence works based on structured information and imitation, but that’s about as much as it can do. Virtual coaches can’t:

• Pick up on subtle cues communicating hesitation, self-doubt, or discomfort.
• Sense and respond to non-verbal cues.
• Empathize with emotions.
• Intuit when to push the client gently or take a step back.
• Genuinely care about the person they’re coaching.

Coaching isn’t just about asking questions. It’s about knowing when and how to ask the right one, recognizing the need to revisit previous stages of a coaching model, and challenging limiting beliefs or resistance. AI doesn’t have that instinct.

Coaching frameworks can be fed to AI models like scripts, but they will perform them in a robotic way without these nuances. They will follow instructions but won’t adjust in real-time based on how a client is processing the conversation.

A human coach recognizes when the client experiences cognitive dissonance or sabotaging themselves. They can hold space for silence and fulfill the very real human need to be seen, understood, and genuinely cared for.

AI, on the other hand, just keeps going. It doesn’t pause, challenge the client’s thoughts, or share their personal experience. This is why even an AI trained on the best coaching methodologies would still fall short.

What AI Coaching Tools Can Be Used for

While AI can’t replace human coaches, it can complement your coaching process and workflow in a few ways:

✅ Providing structure: AI can generate journaling prompts and exercises, and it can keep track of the habits clients set out to develop. This helps them keep up their progress and discover new insights till the next time they see you.

✅ Offering on-demand support: AI bots or assistants can provide instant responses when clients have general questions or need motivation in between personalized coaching sessions. While this doesn’t replace a deep coaching conversation, it can offer quick encouragement and basic guidance.

✅ Generating insights: Some AI tools analyze patterns in client responses and progress data to give real-time feedback and suggest next steps. This can keep the client accountable and allow you to check in with them less frequently.

✅ Saving time on admin work: AI can transcribe session recordings, generate survey questions, and automate check-ins so you can focus on improving your coaching process rather than repetitive tasks.

5 AI Coaching Tools to Test in Your Practice

Here are a couple of AI coaching tools you can try with clients.

1. Noom for Weight Loss Coaching

Noom is a digital health platform that combines psychology and technology to help users achieve sustainable lifestyle changes.

Its standout features are:

✅ AI food logging: Clients can log meals with a photo, text, or voice and have AI identify ingredients and quantities.

✅ Personal health assistant: Provides immediate answers and 24/7 assistance on various wellness topics.

✅ Psychology-based approach: Clients get daily bite-sized lessons backed by the latest in behavioral science.

Integrating Noom into traditional coaching packages gives you more detailed insights into your clients’ health and habits. It also makes it easier for them to track their health data and provides personalized tips on demand between sessions.

You can contact Noom’s team to inquire about their subscription plans and pricing options.

2. Fitbod for Fitness Coaching

Fitbod is an AI-powered fitness app that creates personalized workout plans based on a user’s goals, experience, and available equipment.

Its standout features are:

✅ Adaptive workout plans: The algorithm adjusts exercises, sets, and reps based on client progress and feedback.

✅ Exercise demonstrations: Clients can follow video tutorials and written instructions for each movement.

✅ Progress tracking: Logs workouts and tracks improvements over time to ensure continuous growth.

Integrating Fitbod into your coaching packages lets clients stay on track between sessions with customized workouts. It ensures they follow structured routines tailored to their needs while giving you insights into their progress.

Fitbod is currently $12.99 a month and $80 a year.

3. CoachVox AI for Business and Life Coaches

CoachVox AI allows you to create an AI-powered version of yourself that interacts with clients, answers questions, and reinforces your coaching methods.

Its standout features are:

✅ AI coach cloning: The algorithm learns from your content to replicate your tone, expertise, and coaching style.

✅ 24/7 client interaction: Clients can engage with your AI anytime to get guidance based on your approach.

✅ Content integration: The AI incorporates your existing materials, like articles, videos, and frameworks.

Adding CoachVox AI to your coaching business lets you provide ongoing support between sessions without increasing your workload. It can handle common client questions, share resources, and keep clients engaged while you focus on deeper transformation work.

You do need to have existing content to make Coachvox work, but it can be a great way to get more clients into your funnel at a lower price point and then upsell them your premium, face-to-face packages.

CoachVox AI is currently $99 a month.

4. Rocky AI for Mindset and Personal Growth Coaching

Rocky AI is a white-label AI coach platform for personal development. It helps users build a growth-oriented mindset through daily AI-driven conversations.

Its standout features are:

✅ Daily reflections: Guides clients through self-awareness exercises and personal insights.

✅ Goal tracking: Helps clients set, monitor, and stay accountable for personal and professional goals.

✅ Personalized coaching plans: Provides AI-generated strategies to support personal and professional growth.

You can integrate Rocky AI into your coaching packages as a tool for daily mindset work. It reinforces the concepts discussed in sessions and helps clients stay consistent with reflection and goal-setting. Over time, developing a growth mindset also makes clients more coachable.

Rocky AI offers a free basic plan, with premium features starting at $9.99 monthly.

5. LearnWorlds for Course-Based Coaching

LearnWorlds has introduced an AI-powered coaching assistant that helps course creators enhance engagement and provide personalized support to students.

Its standout features are:

✅ AI tutor for learners: Answers student questions instantly to reinforce key coaching concepts.

✅ Smart content recommendations: Suggests relevant course materials based on individual progress.

✅ Automated feedback and support: Provides real-time guidance to keep learners on track.

For coaches offering digital courses, LearnWorlds’ AI Coach acts as an on-demand assistant for continuous learning. It keeps students engaged and gives them extra support between traditional coaching sessions. 

Instead of answering repetitive questions, you can focus on deeper coaching while LearnWorlds AI handles routine interactions.

Pricing starts at $29 a month.

How to Incorporate AI Coaching Into Your Packages

Instead of seeing AI as competition, think of it as an opportunity to enhance your coaching practice. Use it to add value to your packages, save time on repetitive tasks, and keep your face-to-face coaching sessions more focused.

1. Restructure Your Packages

If you want to integrate AI into your coaching process, consider offering different tiers with or without this service. Here’s an example:

📌 Package 1: AI-Supported Coaching (lower-cost option)

• Access to the AI tool for daily support, habit tracking, or journaling
• Bi-weekly or monthly face-to-face coaching sessions to discuss progress and adjust goals

📌 Package 2: Full Coaching Experience (premium option)

• Weekly one-on-one coaching sessions
• AI tool as an optional learning and accountability tool between sessions

Another option is to offer coaching through an AI version of yourself at a lower cost and face-to-face sessions as your premium package.

AI coaching is relatively new and not all clients might be open to it. As you test out new packages, gather feedback on what solutions suit them best and adjust your approach accordingly.

2. Educate Your Clients on AI

Give your clients clear instructions on how to get the most out of using the AI tool of your choice.

✅ Brief them on your new coaching plan: Explain how AI will complement (not replace) your coaching process and what they can expect from either throughout your program.

✅ Set clear expectations: Let them know what action steps you expect them to take in between sessions, such as logging their progress with AI, checking in with it daily, or setting up their exercise routine.

✅ Give them specific prompts: Give them tips on how they can interact with the AI version of you. For example, “Give me feedback on X” or “I’m stuck with Y. What should I do?”

✅ Encourage reflection before sessions: Ask them to bring their biggest insights, challenges, and any situations where AI wasn’t helpful to your one-on-one coaching sessions.

3. Discuss Their Progress

When it’s time for your next session, discuss the client’s progress and their experience with the AI coaching tool.

Here are some coaching questions that will help you do that:

• How do you feel about your progress so far?
• On a scale of 1-10, how confident/clear/motivated are you to reach your goals? (Notice any hesitation, discomfort, or confusion here.)
• Did you get any helpful insight from the AI tool? What stuck with you the most?
• Did you feel stuck at any point? Was the AI able to help you overcome your obstacle?
• Did you get any advice or guidance from the chatbot that didn’t sit right with you?
• What weren’t you able to solve on your own or with the virtual coach?
• How can we adjust the coaching process to better support you? Is there something in particular you need from me?

These questions don’t replace your general coaching process but they can help you address the client’s experience with virtual coaching in between your face-to-face sessions.

FAQ

Can AI Coaches Replace Human Coaches?

No. AI lacks intuition, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking. It can assist but not replace human coaches.

How Do AI Coaches Work?

They use algorithms to ask structured questions, track progress, and offer automated insights.

How Personalized Is AI Coaching?

AI coaches structure and refine their suggestions based on the client’s history and the patterns they recognize in them. However, they can’t read non-verbal cues and empathize with feelings.

Is My Data Safe With an AI Coach?

It depends on the platform. Check the tool’s privacy policy to get a better idea about how your information is stored and used.

Over to You

AI can be useful, but coaching is ultimately about human connection, something an AI bot will never be able to replicate. AI can serve as an assistant, helping you streamline your workflow and take over repetitive tasks in your coaching process.

With Paperbell, you can take this a step further. 

It’s an all-in-one coaching website and client management tool that lets you design custom packages and sell them on ready-made landing pages. It handles your entire client management workflow, from bookings and payments to contracts and automated reminders.

Try Paperbell for free to see how it can transform your coaching practice.