Throne’s Toilet Camera Offers Insight Into Your Gut Health For $499

In an intriguing intersection of health technology and bathroom humor, an Austin-based startup named Throne is embarking on a unique venture: a toilet camera designed to monitor the health of its users by photographing their waste. Currently in beta testing, this innovative device aims to provide insights into gut health and hydration using what the company terms “artificial gut intelligence.”

Throne’s approach utilizes artificial intelligence that has been trained by medical professionals to decode the information contained within human excrement. This includes analyzing certain characteristics of both feces and urine—crucial elements that can hint at hydration levels and various health conditions. Surprisingly, the treasures of knowledge found in our daily “logs” may shed light on our overall well-being, pushing the boundaries of how we view such private matters.

CEO Scott Hickle outlines the company’s commitment to privacy on its newly launched security and privacy page, emphasizing that their technology is limited strictly to the contents of the toilet bowl, thus mitigating potential privacy concerns. “We only capture images of the contents of your toilet bowl. Any other data is irrelevant to our mission and could compromise our ability to provide accurate health insights,” the company asserts. This focus allows Throne to utilize advanced image recognition technology to delete any non-relevant images automatically, keeping users’ data safe and focused.

Data management privacy is a significant consideration for potential users, and Throne meets this head-on. Users can request full access to any data collected and can also demand its deletion if they choose to discontinue use. The company’s servers employ top-notch encryption standards, ensuring that data remains secure. Moreover, Throne specifies that they do not access individual data. Instead, their analyses rely exclusively on aggregated, anonymized data that cannot be traced back to individual users.

Hickle notes that the startup did not initially set out to revolutionize toilet technology. Throne began as a marketplace for healthcare staffing; however, faced with an oversaturated market, the founders took a bold pivot. After raising an initial sum of $1.2 million from various investors—including Night Capital, Rief Ventures, and Hustle Fund—they quickly transformed their focus to consumer hardware, specifically in the realm of health insights derived from poop. “Within six weeks, we came to the painful realization that the market was saturated and not a sandbox we wanted to play in,” Hickle explains, clearly indicating the company’s adaptive nature and innovative mindset.

Targeting an expansive demographic that includes aging populations and individuals suffering from chronic digestive conditions, Throne’s camera system is positioned as a potential aid for those with ailments such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Despite the novelty—or absurdity—of a toilet camera, the underlying intention is serious: empowering users with knowledge about their health in ways never before imagined in personal health technology.

The smart toilet camera is set for preorder after a limited beta program, priced at $499, but early adopters can snag it for the promotional price of $299. For those undeterred by the unconventional concept of installing a camera on their toilet, Throne presents a groundbreaking opportunity to understand one’s body intimately through the lens of modern technology—a venture that might still make a few giggles amid its serious implications for improved health tracking and awareness.