Students of Sechenov University developed "Nika" — a mental AI assistant for amateur runners. Currently, the service is available in web format: it can be used through the project's website. Its main idea is reflected in the slogans "running starts in the head" and "your run from within."
"Nika" does not create training plans and does not try to replace a professional coach. Its task is to help a person cope with a lack of motivation, go for a run, and not abandon training after a few sessions.
The service operates on the basis of a large language model. First, the assistant gets acquainted with the user, learns about their habits, goals, and attitude towards sports, and then uses this information in dialogue. "Nika" can write to the person before a session and continue communication during the run.
The application also has a journal and an analytics section. They help save information about workouts, monitor regularity, and assess progress towards the set goal.
The project was created by students of medical and engineering fields together with graduates of the Sechenov University campus and "School 21". Before launch, the team communicated with participants of the Kazan Marathon, other races, and university running communities, and then tested the system on volunteers.
Currently, more than 250 athletes use "Nika". The developers plan to continue developing the service and prepare versions for other platforms.