This week, the tech industry was occupied with CES 2024, where Kohler took the opportunity to preview its cutting-edge smart bidet. Elsewhere in the product space, Parisian fashion house Celine teamed up with Master & Dynamic for a luxurious pair of over-the-ear headphones.
On the software side, Google is reported to be working on an advanced version of its Bard chatbot, according to developer Dylan Roussel. In the app arena, TikTok hiked seller fees as part of its rumored lofty goal to increase its e-commerce business “tenfold” in 2024.
Below, Hypebeast has rounded up the top tech stories of the week so you can stay up to date on trends in the industry.
Kohler’s New Bidet Takes Voice Commands From Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant
Kohler
At CES 2024, Kohler debuted its latest addition to the bathroom: a smart bidet. While smart toilet systems can run in the tens of thousands, Kohler’s $1,289 USD PureWash E930 transforms one’s toilet into a luxury, high-tech experience.
Compatible with Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant, the bidet can be controlled entirely via voice commands (though it also comes with a remote control for those who prefer manual.) Users can simply speak to adjust the temperature of the water and its pressure, as well as select from a variety of “spray” modes. It also comes with a heated seat and self-cleaning capabilities using UV technology.
The $1,289 USD PureWash E930 is available for pre-order now on Kohler’s website.
Google Is Reportedly Working on an Advanced Version of Its Bard Chatbot
Pavlo Gonchar/Sopa Images/Lightrocket/Getty Im
Google’s Bard hasn’t quite lived up to its competitor, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, but it seems that the company is embracing the niche audience that Bard has landed with. According to reverse-engineered screenshots of Google’s code shared by developer Dylan Roussel, Google is working on an advanced version of the chatbot.
Aptly titled Bard Advanced, the bot would be exclusively available to Google One subscribers and would be powered by the company’s new LLM, Gemini Ultra. The code also suggests that Bard Advanced would offer a tool called “Motoko,” which would guide users in creating their own chatbots.
Celine Brings Luxury to Your Ears With Master & Dynamic Headphones
Celine
Celine is expanding beyond fashion and venturing into audio hardware. The Parisian label has teamed up with New York’s Master & Dynamic for a luxurious pair of over-the-ear headphones. The exterior of each earcup boasts the Celine logo, while the body is constructed out of anodized aluminum and lambskin leather.
Before hitting the market, the headphones actually made their debut on the runway. Models sported the collaboration at Celine’s Spring/Summer 2024 womenswear show ‘La Collection de la Bibliothèque Nationale,’ helmed by Hedi Slimane.
Priced at $824 USD and expected to launch online soon, the Celine x Master & Dynamic headphones are available in tan and silver, black and silver and monochrome black.
TikTok Reportedly Aims To Grow E-Commerce to $17.5B USD Following Seller Fee Hike
Patrick T. Fallon/Afp/Getty Images
TikTok is reportedly on a mission to grow its e-commerce business “tenfold,” according to Business of Fashion. The ByteDance-owned app is aiming to hit $17.5 billion USD in sales in 2024 through its in-app shopping platform, the publication reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Seemingly as part of this goal, TikTok has shared that it’ll be quadrupling seller fees over the coming months. While the app currently takes just 2% of sales, it’ll be raising its cut to 6% in April and then once again raised to 8% in July. BoF reported that its financial goals are subject to change over the course of the year, as the TikTok Shop is still a relatively new venture for the app.
