Midjourney Expands from Cat Images to Full-Body Ultrasound Scans

Midjourney’s CEO, David Holz, recently unveiled the company’s inaugural hardware venture, which is quite a departure from the usual “cat pictures” generated by its AI. Introducing The Midjourney Scanner, this innovative ultrasound-based full-body scanner employs a ring of sensors to capture vertical slices of your body, analyzing the composition of muscle, fat, bone, and organs. Holz envisions using it for regular assessments, ideally once a year or even daily, claiming it aims for image quality that rivals MRI technology.

He expressed interest in tracking how his body responds to dietary and workout changes, stating, “I’m not the most measured man on Earth yet, you know, but maybe I want to have that daily [measurable information].” Job listings indicate the company’s ambition to create the world’s first full-body ultrasound CT scanner, ultimately providing safe, fast, and high-fidelity preventative scanning to billions through a unique spa experience.

The Midjourney Scanner was developed in collaboration with Butterfly Network, which noted that each system utilizes “40 Butterfly Ultrasound-on-Chip imaging modules.”

The scanning process begins when you step onto a platform that descends into water, passing through a ring of thousands of transducers that emit ultrasonic waves. These waves ripple through your body, allowing for detailed 3D imaging, with the entire scan taking about 60 seconds. So far, around a dozen individuals have undergone scanning.

Midjourney describes the experience as follows:
> It starts by stepping into a shallow pool of golden light. You then begin to descend into the water. Your body passes through a ring of underwater sensors, each acting like a dolphin, using its echolocation. The sensors send ultrasonic sound waves through your body from every angle. With enough waves, and enough angles, we form an image of what’s happening inside your body.

This technology is powered by two petaflops of processing capability. However, after watching the livestreamed reveal, it remains unclear how Midjourney’s AI image generation technology directly relates to the Midjourney Medical initiative, aside from providing an alternative use for otherwise idle AI computing resources.

Holz aims to install ten scanners at a Midjourney Spa in San Francisco’s Union Square, set to open by the end of 2027. He even offered to scan the hands of attendees at the launch event. The Midjourney Spa will feature a gym, saunas, and cold plunges, alongside hot tub-equipped scanning rooms where visitors will be scanned in the water.

While he noted that various medical applications would need FDA approvals, Midjourney Medical is currently focused on developing “body composition maps” that don’t require the same level of clearance as diagnostic imaging. Users will be able to share their “library of scans” with doctors, AI health tools, or others, with a commitment to data privacy, promising more details on their policies as the launch approaches.

Holz speculated that these scans could eventually surpass MRI technology, eliminating the need for radiation, powerful magnets, or other complexities, allowing for rapid insights into bodily conditions. He even envisioned a future where the FDA might classify devices for examining “weird” things, enabling people to gather as much data as possible.