This $9,000 ‘intelligent’ toilet has smart lighting, speakers and Amazon Alexa
For all of the genuine advances in technology found at the Consumer Electronic Show, the Las Vegas event has a reputation for showcasing some fairly outlandish tech.
This time around - and before the show even properly opens its doors - we already have an "intelligent" toilet with built-in speakers, adjustable smart lights, a heated seat...and Amazon Alexa.
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The Numi 2.0 Intelligent Toilet comes from Kohler, a 146-year-old plumbing company which is using CES to show off the latest components of its smart bathroom suite. The highlight of the suite is of course the Alexa-equipped toilet, which claims to offer a "fully-immersive experience".
Alexa integration means you can ask the assistant to play music, adjust the toilet's Philips Hue-style lighting, and control any of your connected smart home equipment. You could even have Alexa broadcast a spoken message to the house, if you so wish, or maybe you'll want to order some more toilet roll from Amazon.
According to Kohler, the toilet "offers exceptional water efficiency, personalized cleansing and dryer functions, a heated seat, and high-quality built-in speakers."
This second-generation intelligent toilet has had its smart lighting upgraded from static colors to "dynamic and interactive multi-colored ambient and surround lighting."
The company adds: "Paired with the new speakers in the Numi toilet, these lighting and audio enhancements create a fully-immersive experience for homeowners."
The integrated Alexa is the same as in Amazon's Echo smart speakers, which means the assistant's tens of thousands of skills - plus any routines you have already set up - are all accessible from the bathroom.
Other smart features include how the toilet senses you approaching it, then automatically illuminates, opens and warms the seat. When you stand up and leave, the toilet automatically flushes, making it completes hands-free. The toilet has the option to set up different profiles for each family member, via voice commands or the smartphone app, so each person gets the washing routine they prefer. Water temperature, pressure and spray pattern can all be adjusted.
Kohler plans to put the toilet on sale in the fourth quarter of 2019, priced at $7,000, or $9,000 for a black version.
Also part of Kohler's connected bathroom collection for 2019 is the Verdera Voice-Lighted Mirror, which is a smart bathroom mirror with both Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant. This also features smart lighting (with the Philips Hue API), and costs from $1,249 for the 24-inch model.
We are truly living in the future.
Check out The GearBrain, our smart home compatibility checker to see the other compatible products that work with Google Home and Home Mini as well as Amazon Alexa enabled devices.
