05/24/2026
I can’t wait to start rehabbing injuries from these devices. What could go wrong??
“AI is entering the physical realm in a big way. Case in point: I spent Mother’s Day e-hiking with bionic leg boosters.
I strapped my two-year-old in a hiking carrier, and went for a walk up a winding dirt trail. The robotic hip motors whirred and a mechanical force tugged at my quads.
As the incline got steeper, I opened the companion app on my phone and pressed 'Boost.'
My stride quickened. The whirring got louder. As the AI marched me toward the summit, I enjoyed the view. Thirty seconds later, the surge of power was over, and the legs returned to the gentler Eco mode.
These motorized supports were once reserved for military, heavy industry and mobility rehabilitation. Now, they are light and affordable enough for regular folks—regular folks who want to feel superhuman, that is.
Two weeks of testing didn’t transform me into Iron Man. But the rig did make me want to sprint everywhere—and I hate running.”
Read about—and watch—Nicole Nguyen’s take on the $2,000 Hypershell X Ultra S bionic leg boosters: 🔗 https://on.wsj.com/4tSVTqz