Midjourney unveils full-body ultrasound scanner
Midjourney CEO David Holz revealed the company's first hardware product—a full-body ultrasound scanner that creates detailed internal body images using a ring of sensors.
Midjourney, known for its AI image generator, has introduced its first hardware device: the Midjourney Scanner, a full-body ultrasound scanner. CEO David Holz explained that the device uses a ring of sensors to capture vertical slices of the body's interior, analyzing muscle, fat, bone, and organs.
The scanner was developed in partnership with Butterfly Network, an ultrasound technology company, and incorporates 40 Butterfly Ultrasound-on-Chip imaging modules per system. During a scan, a person steps onto a platform that descends into water, passing through a ring of thousands of transducers. These transducers emit ultrasonic waves and record their echoes to create detailed 3D images. Holz said the scan takes about 60 seconds, and roughly a dozen people have been scanned so far.
The system uses two petaflops of processing power to generate images. However, Holz did not clarify how Midjourney's AI image generation technology directly contributes to this medical project, suggesting it might serve as an alternative use for otherwise idle AI compute resources.
For now, Midjourney Medical is focusing on body composition mapping, which does not require FDA clearance since it is not diagnostic imaging. Holz acknowledged that medical applications would need FDA approvals. The company plans to open a Midjourney Spa in San Francisco's Union Square by the end of 2027, featuring ten scanners, along with a gym, saunas, and cold plunges. Holz expressed hope that these scans could eventually surpass MRI quality without radiation or strong magnetic fields.
