CES 2026: A Wild Showcase of Unconventional Experiences

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At CES 2026 this week, the buzz was all about health tech, and my answer to the frequent question of what I was seeing? Bodily fluids. Yes, you heard that right—urine, blood, sweat, and saliva.

Most people reacted with groans and raised eyebrows, but industry insiders were unfazed. CES has become the epicenter of the wellness revolution. At Eureka Park and the Venetian Expo, a plethora of digital health startups showcased everything from smartwatches and rings to innovative smart pillows. While urine tech has long been a staple at the show, this year’s focus is on the notion that analyzing these fluids can lead to a longer, healthier life.

Here’s a glimpse of what caught my eye: at-home hormone testing kits utilizing urine and saliva; smart menstrual pads and panty liners; an in-toilet hydration tracker; a mirror that assesses your facial blood flow to gauge aging; a sperm microscope; and a smart scale that evaluates metabolic health through foot sweat.

It’s not just the small players making waves; established names are also expanding their platforms to include more than just heart rate data. At the event, one company announced a partnership to integrate continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) into their offerings. Another brand revealed a similar collaboration last year, and yet another has recently added blood panel data integration to its app.

This growing obsession with bodily fluids signals a shift in the industry’s focus toward metabolic health as the next big frontier. While digital health initially centered on cardiovascular wellness, the next phase is all about metabolism. After logging countless steps on the show floor, I sat down with the CEOs of two major companies to discuss the future of metabolic tech, the challenges ahead, and what consumers can expect.

Both executives emphasized the delicate balance between gathering useful data from new metrics and the risk of overwhelming users with health-related anxiety. While many are comfortable with basic step and heart rate data, delving into deeper metabolic insights involves handling more sensitive information. Introducing advanced detection features—like alerts for high blood pressure or glucose—raises the stakes significantly.

“Actually, we don’t need more sensors. We need more sense,” one CEO remarked, suggesting that metabolic insights from blood or urine tests should be more episodic than continuous. The goal is to combine targeted, use-case-driven data with long-term baseline information.

“Bringing the data together in one place is crucial. Having it scattered across different devices creates issues, but technology must provide real insights rather than just a list of blood markers,” the other CEO added.

This challenge is a familiar one in health tech, and many companies are turning to AI for solutions. That’s why we’re seeing a surge in AI-powered nutrition tracking, chatbots, and insights in health apps. One company recently introduced AI insights for its CGM, while another announced plans to add AI nutrition logging to its app.

On paper, this trend makes perfect sense, but the reality is that the technology isn’t quite there yet. When I pressed one CEO on this, he acknowledged the gap.

“We need to move beyond the current limitations, and CGMs are a prime example of technology with clear benefits,” he noted, highlighting the direct links between lifestyle changes and glucose readings.

However, data privacy remains a significant concern. Blood tests can be invasive, and many people are already feeling anxious about their health. It’s a challenging time for health tech to request more data from users.

For instance, one company faced backlash earlier this year when it was revealed they had a partnership with a controversial organization. Users accused them of mishandling data, prompting the CEO to clarify that they do not sell or share user information and that the partnership was unrelated to consumer data.

Months later, the CEO reflected that the incident didn’t significantly impact the company but served as a valuable lesson about user concerns regarding data privacy.

Both executives pointed to trends in nutrition, blood pressure monitoring, and wearable ecosystems as key areas for growth. One company plans to introduce macro tracking and a revamped app soon, while another hinted at potential integrations between smart glasses and food tracking, allowing users to take photos of meals for calorie estimates and data cross-referencing.

“The wearable tech space is booming, driven by a genuine desire for healthier living and improved healthcare outcomes,” one CEO stated. “Wearable technology is essential for scaling this effort, as not every doctor can see every patient all the time.”

Considering all this, I doubt the average person will start installing urine collectors in their toilets or regularly getting blood draws anytime soon. That would be a rather dystopian 2026. However, based on what I observed and discussed, it seems we’re on the verge of a shift from basic fitness tracking to a focus on longevity through preventive measures. It’s likely to be less about daily activity goals and more about experimenting with lifestyle changes over time to track their effects. Optimistically, these changes could help mitigate common health issues like diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol. Whether or not they involve bodily fluids, the industry clearly believes that metabolism holds the key to a healthier future.

Unfortunately, that likely means more bodily fluids are on the horizon.