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arXiv · 2602.01918

When Workout Buddies Are Virtual: AI Agents and Human Peers in a Longitudinal Physical Activity Study

Alessandro Silacci·Mauro Cherubini·Arianna Boldi·Amon Rapp·Maurizio Caon
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Abstract

Physical inactivity remains a critical global health issue, yet scalable strategies for sustained motivation are scarce. Conversational agents designed as simulated exercising peers (SEPs) represent a promising alternative, but their long-term impact is unclear. We report a six-month randomized controlled trial (N=280) comparing individuals exercising alone, with a human peer, or with a large language model-driven SEP. Results revealed a partnership paradox: human peers evoked stronger social presence, while AI peers provided steadier encouragement and more reliable working alliances. Humans motivated through authentic comparison and accountability, whereas AI peers fostered consistent, low-stakes support. These complementary strengths suggest that AI agents should not mimic human authenticity but augment it with reliability. Our findings advance human-agent interaction research and point to hybrid designs where human presence and AI consistency jointly sustain physical activity.

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Alessandro Silacci, Mauro Cherubini, Arianna Boldi, Amon Rapp, Maurizio Caon. 2026-02-02. When Workout Buddies Are Virtual: AI Agents and Human Peers in a Longitudinal Physical Activity Study. https://doi.org/10.1145/3772318.3790303

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