Smart Toilets Are Already Using AI to Analyze Your Poop

The global market for gut health products is projected to reach about $106 billion by 2029. Companies are using stool data to offer detailed health insights, suggest dietary and lifestyle changes, and recommend medical consultations if bathroom habits appear concerning. However, some doctors remain doubtful about the value of AI-powered toilet bowl analysis devices, while privacy advocates express concerns about long-term subscriptions that grant access to personal health data.

Smart toilets, equipped with AI and cameras, are being offered by companies like Kohler Health and Throne. These devices clip onto toilets and record videos of bowel movements, analyzing factors such as consistency, color, and hydration levels. The companies claim their approach differs from at-home gut microbiome test kits, which have limited scientific evidence.

Instead, the smart toilets aim to establish individual baseline gut health patterns. Experts suggest that for healthy individuals, these devices may not provide significant benefits, as direct observation of bowel movements is possible. However, for those with digestive conditions, regular stool monitoring could be valuable for tracking patterns and sharing information with healthcare providers.

Throne is developing a next-generation model that can detect blood in feces using advanced imaging, potentially aiding in early colorectal cancer detection. While this feature is promising, the high cost of the device and the subscription model may limit its widespread adoption for cancer screening. Additionally, the companies collect personal data, including health information and location data, raising concerns about privacy and potential sharing with third parties.