Emerging Trends in Wellness Monitoring
It was only a matter of time before wellness monitoring devices, which have been optimising our heart rate, sleep patterns, stress levels, step counts, blood glucose, and menstrual cycles, turned their attention to perhaps the most intimate biological signal of all: our stools. The global gut health market is projected to reach nearly $106 billion by 2029, with various companies betting on the use of stool data to provide detailed health insights, motivate dietary and lifestyle changes, and advise users to consult a physician if their bathroom habits appear abnormal. However, gastroenterologists remain sceptical about whether AI-driven products that analyse toilet images offer value for money. Privacy advocates also warn that individuals may feel pressured into long-term subscriptions just to access their health data.
The Cost of Digital Defecation
Among the companies promoting smart toilets are Kohler Health, a subsidiary of the plumbing giant that retails its device for $449, plus an annual family subscription of $130, and Throne, a startup that raised $10 million in July and offers its product at $399, with an additional $70 for annual membership. Both companies provide sleek white devices that attach to the toilet and feature downward-facing cameras (which they assure cannot be rotated upwards). When a user sits down, the device employs a light sensor to record a video of the stool, which is subsequently processed by an algorithm that evaluates the consistency and colour of the faeces and urine, along with other parameters. A few minutes later, users receive a report on their toilet visit via an AI-based app that monitors gut health and hydration levels.
Personalisation Over Blanket Assessments
The companies assert that they are taking a markedly different approach compared to home kits for analysing gut microbiota. These kits claim to use stool samples to identify food intolerances and provide dietary advice, yet often lack robust evidence of efficacy. The new stool monitoring devices aim to determine what is normal for each individual rather than delivering a simplistic “healthy or not” verdict. “This is deeply personal and highly individual; digestive patterns vary significantly,” remarks Nora Tophof, CEO of Kohler Health.
Insights for Healthy Individuals
Nevertheless, for healthy individuals with regular bowel movements, stool analysers may not yield significant new insights, argues Daniel Freedberg, a New York gastroenterologist and spokesperson for the American Gastroenterological Association. “It seems a bit excessive,” he notes. “If you want to examine your stool, you can simply look at it yourself. I don’t believe AI will bring substantial scientific advancements in this area.” Tophof counters that for healthy users, the true value lies in long-term tracking to identify actionable patterns, such as noticing consistent dehydration over weekends or particular foods or medications causing stomach discomfort.
Addressing Serious Health Concerns
Scott Hickle, co-founder and CEO of Throne, contends that individuals with inflammatory bowel disease or other digestive conditions could benefit from regular, automated stool tracking. “Doctors often ask patients to keep track of their bowel movements, and compliance with that directive is virtually non-existent,” he adds. “Nobody wants to keep a diary of their stools.” Throne also aims to provide more than just assistance with tracking gut health. Colorectal cancer rates among young adults have risen over the past decade, making it the leading cause of cancer-related death in those under 50. While the reasons remain unclear, factors such as ultraprocessed foods, microplastics, and antibiotics are under scrutiny. Typically, colorectal cancer detection involves a colonoscopy or a stool test searching for hidden blood.
Future Innovations in Detection
Hickle asserts that the next generation of Throne’s device will be capable of detecting blood in stools using multispectral imaging, which is significantly more sensitive than the human eye. Initial prototype testing has shown promise, and the updated device could be on the market within two years. While pricing has yet to be determined, Hickle emphasises that Throne’s goal is to “make it as accessible as possible to benefit the greatest number of people.” He hopes that the blood data will eventually aid in the detection of colorectal cancer, although the efficacy of this approach compared to laboratory tests remains uncertain.
Prioritising User Safety and Privacy
“We do not aim to provide diagnoses,” clarifies Hickle. “Identifying bleeding patterns over weeks and months should at least prompt users to have a more in-depth conversation with their doctor.” Kohler Health states that its device already alerts users when it detects blood in the toilet. While often benign (common examples include menstrual blood and hemorrhoids), it could also indicate serious health issues. “We genuinely want to help people, and ultimately save lives,” concludes Tophof.
The Financial and Ethical Implications of Smart Toilets
Even if the blood detection technology proves to be clinically significant, the high costs of these stool tracking devices may hinder their widespread use as tools for cancer detection or other health risks, according to Gianluca Ianiro, an assistant professor of gastroenterology at the Catholic University of Rome. “A screening test should be non-invasive and also affordable, and these devices are not cheap,” adds Ianiro.
Understanding Data Privacy Risks
Potential buyers of these smart toilets should also consider how much personal data they are willing to exchange for the benefits of the device. This is particularly pertinent given that “you have to pay repeatedly to access your own information and analyse it,” as noted by Lauren Hendry Parsons, a digital rights advocate at the Mozilla Foundation. If customers continue renewing their subscriptions, “it may become increasingly difficult to disentangle from the service as years of data accumulate,” she adds.
The Balance Between Benefit and Privacy
In addition to analysing toilet contents (and any health data users provide to the app, such as diet or medication), both Throne and Kohler Health collect a variety of personal data, including names and demographic information. Kohler Health also tracks precise location data, while Throne does not. Both companies assert that they do not share users’ health information for targeted advertising, but they may share such data with law enforcement, another company in the event of a merger or sale, and with external service providers for IT, customer service, and loyalty purposes, according to their privacy policies. Tophof adds that Kohler Health does not plan to sell users’ health data. Throne similarly states that it will not do so without explicit consent. Looking ahead, Hickle hopes to share users’ health data with universities researching gut health, but consent will be required, and opting out will not affect users’ ability to use the app or device.
Making Informed Decisions
Hendry Parsons advises privacy-conscious consumers to “do your homework. Understand the trade-offs, what you are sharing, and find out how your data is being used, weighing all of this against the benefits you receive from the product.” This assessment may differ for someone “suffering from Crohn’s disease, for whom this could represent a significant improvement in daily life,” compared to a “health enthusiast who casually thinks it might be fun to understand the impact of their homemade kombucha.”