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Aug 02, 2023

Kohler Announces Alexa

When the pandemic hit and nobody could find toilet paper, many people

When the pandemic hit and nobody could find toilet paper, many people transitioned to using a bidet. By using a stream of water to clean your backside, you not only save money on toilet paper, but you also help reduce waste as well. Now Kohler has introduced the most premium bidet imaginable. It's so advanced, it's not even a bidet; it's an "Intelligent Toilet." With a sky-high price of $11,500, you'd expect it to tickle your bum just right each and every time, and also wash the dishes. Although it won't do the latter, it does earn its title by being loaded with tech you'd never expect to find in a toilet.

First of all, it has Amazon's Alexa. Thanks to the built-in microphone, you can control the toilet's features with your voice. We just hope Alexa isn't always listening or recording. The toilet also has Spotify built-in, so you can stream music to cover up unwanted noises. When you first approach the Numi 2.0 Intelligent Toilet it detects your presence, and automatically raises the seat. Kohler says it has a feature called Comfort Height. That means it's taller than a regular toilet, so it's easier to get on and off. As you gently lower yourself, you're greeted by a warming seat pad. In case it's the middle of the night, there's also a glowing ring around the base. Once you're in place, it shoots warm air out of the bottom to keep your feet warm.

While sitting on the Numi is undoubtedly comfortable, the real fun starts when you finish your business. You can choose from two different flush sizes -- 0.8 or 1.0 gpf -- and the stainless steel "wand" that sprays you has plenty of options. You can choose to have either the front or the rear sprayed down. Plus, you can adjust the angle of the spray, the water pressure, and the temperature. You can also choose to have it pulsate or oscillate if you enjoy that sensation. If you're the lazy type, you can just have it automatically flush 60 seconds after it detects your departure. If you just need to do a number 1, there's an LED in the bowl for easy night-time tinkling. Once you've finished and it's done cleaning your nether regions, it'll dry them with a stream of hot air.

The toilet will even keep the wand clean with the assistance of a UV light to help it identify, um, things. Kohler says it uses an "electrolyzed water system," which helps disinfect it. The bowl is also "misted" before it's cleaned to make the process easier, as a pre-rinse. There's even an emergency reservoir that allows for 100 flushes even if the power goes out. Talk about a toilet for the apocalypse.

There's also a wireless, touch-screen remote if you don't want to talk to your toilet. It can be mounted anywhere in the home and attaches to any wall. It lets you change the water temperature, angle and type of spray, and everything else. It's about the size of a smartphone and resembles the original iPhone.

As a premium product, Kohler doesn't want you to just buy the toilet by itself. For the low price of $699, you can get Kohler's Virtual Bathroom Design Service. This will give you access to three virtual meetings with designers at Kohler about your plans. The company will also send you high-res floor plans and renders to let you see how it would look. The product page(Opens in a new window) allows you to download 2D and 3D files of it, so you can add it to your designs.

Sadly, the Numi 2.0 is available only in white. The previous 1.0 version was offered in black as well, which looks slick all lit up. As The Verge(Opens in a new window) points out, the Numi 2.0 is available to distributors, but you'll be able to buy it directly from Kohler soon.