Smart Toilets Are Already Using AI to Analyze Your Poop

The global market for gut health is projected to reach nearly $106 billion by 2029. Companies are utilizing stool data to offer detailed health insights, guide dietary and lifestyle changes, and suggest medical consultations if necessary. However, many gastroenterologists doubt the value of AI-powered devices that analyze images of what is inside the toilet bowl. Subscription fees are a concern for data-privacy advocates, as they may lock users into long-term commitments to access their personal health data.

A couple of companies, Kohler Health and Throne, are marketing smart toilets for around $449 and $399 respectively, plus an annual membership fee. The devices feature cameras facing down into the toilet bowl and use light sensors to record videos of bowel movements. The AI algorithm then analyzes the video to assess urine and stool consistency, color, and other metrics. The information is displayed on an app that tracks gut health and hydration scores.

The companies argue that their devices offer a more personalized approach than at-home gut microbiome test kits, which lack evidence of their effectiveness. Instead of providing a simple healthy-or-not verdict, the devices aim to identify an individual's normal digestive patterns. Nora Tophof, Kohler Health's managing director, explains that digestive patterns differ significantly from person to person.

However, gastroenterologist Daniel Freedberg, a spokesperson for the American Gastroenterological Association, believes that for healthy individuals with regular bowel movements, the AI technology may not offer significant advantages. He suggests that healthy people can observe their stool directly and that the AI does not bring much new scientific insight.

Tophof emphasizes that the real value of these devices lies in long-term monitoring to identify patterns. This information can help individuals make lifestyle adjustments, such as recognizing dehydration during weekends or detecting foods or medications that cause stomach discomfort. For people with inflammatory bowel disease or other digestive conditions, regular and automated monitoring can provide benefits to their doctors.

Throne plans to enhance its device to detect blood in fecal matter using multispectral imaging, which is more sensitive than human vision. Early tests of this prototype show promising results, with a potential launch within two years.

Throne's ultimate goal is to make the device affordable and accessible to as many people as possible. The company hopes that detecting blood in feces could eventually contribute to the early detection of colorectal cancer, although it is unclear if this approach is as reliable as medical lab testing. Kohler Health already notifies users when the device detects blood in the toilet, which can indicate the presence of serious health conditions.

However, experts note that the cost of these devices remains prohibitive for widespread cancer screening.

Privacy concerns are also raised by users, as both companies collect personal data, including name, demographics, and health information. Kohler Health tracks users' precise location, while Throne does not. The companies assure that they do not share health information for targeted advertising, but they may still share it with law enforcement, other companies in case of mergers or sales, and third parties.

Critics argue that the recurring subscription fees may make it difficult for users to detach themselves from their personal data once they have invested time and money into the service.