Downcodes editor reports: Health technology startup Throne has launched a controversial product - a smart camera installed on the rim of the toilet to analyze users' excrement to assess intestinal health. The company claims that its artificial intelligence system can analyze stool samples to determine body water content and other indicators, and it has opened pre-orders. The product has raised concerns about privacy and data security, but Throne said it has taken appropriate measures to protect user data and emphasized data encryption and user data control.
Throne, a health tech startup based in Austin, Texas, has launched a unique product - a smart camera that clips to the rim of the toilet to capture and analyze a user's waste. The system, currently in a testing phase, uses artificial intelligence technology to analyze stool samples to assess a user's gut health and body hydration levels.
Throne official screenshot
Throne calls its core technology artificial gut intelligence. According to the company, this AI system has been trained by doctors and can help users understand the health information conveyed by excrement. Doctors look for various signs of health in the waste, including subtle differences in urine to determine body hydration levels.
Regarding the privacy and security issues that may arise, Throne has issued a privacy and security statement. The company emphasizes that the cameras will only capture the contents of the toilet bowl. We only capture images of the contents of the toilet bowl. Any other data is irrelevant to our mission and may impact our ability to provide accurate health insights. The system uses image recognition technology to automatically delete any irrelevant images, ensuring only excretion-related data is retained. All data is encrypted on company servers via TLS1.2 or higher, and users can view their data or request complete deletion.
Throne official screenshot
Throne's founders didn't initially plan to get into toilet cameras. Company CEO Scott Hickle revealed to TechCrunch that Throne was originally a medical recruitment platform. After receiving $1.2 million in investment from investors including Night Capital, Rief Ventures and Hustle Fund, the company realized that the market was saturated and decided to transform and develop consumer hardware products.
Throne's target user groups include the elderly and people with chronic digestive diseases such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. After limited testing, the product is now available for pre-order. Regular retail price is $499, but early buyers can get it for $299.
Although Throne’s smart toilet camera is technologically innovative, its high price and potential privacy issues still require further consideration. Whether it will ultimately be accepted by the market remains to be seen. The editor of Downcodes will continue to pay attention to the subsequent development of this product.