Midjourney moves beyond AI images, unveils full-body ultrasound scanner
What's the story
Midjourney, the company known for its AI image generator, has unveiled its first hardware product: The Midjourney Scanner. This innovative device is an ultrasound-based full-body scanner that uses a ring of sensors to capture vertical slices of the human body. It analyzes muscle, fat, bone, and organ composition. David Holz, CEO of Midjourney, said it aims for image quality comparable to MRI in many ways.
Health monitoring
Tracking health changes over time
Holz envisions the Midjourney Scanner as a tool to track personal health changes over time. He said, "I want to have that daily [measurable information]." The company has partnered with ultrasound tech firm Butterfly Network for this project, which uses 40 of their Ultrasound-on-Chip imaging modules per system. The scanning process involves stepping onto a platform that descends into water on rails through a ring of thousands of transducers, creating ultrasonic waves.
Scanning technique
Scanning technique and spa plans
The Midjourney Scanner's unique scanning technique involves the body passing through a ring of underwater sensors, each acting like a dolphin using its echolocation. The sensors send ultrasonic sound waves through the body from every angle, creating detailed 3D images in about 60 seconds. Holz hopes to install 10 of these scanners at a Midjourney Spa location in San Francisco's Union Square by late 2027.
Spa experience
Proposed Midjourney spa and medical applications
The proposed Midjourney Spa will offer a unique blend of wellness and technology. It will feature a gym, saunas, cold plunges, and hot tub-equipped scanning rooms where visitors can be scanned. While Holz said various medical applications would need FDA clearances, he also noted that Midjourney Medical is working on "body composition maps" that don't require the same level of clearance as diagnostic imaging.
Future prospects
Potential game-changer in medical imaging
Holz envisions the Midjourney Scanner as a potential game-changer in medical imaging, even better than an MRI. He said it could give a fast look at what's happening inside people's bodies without radiation or powerful magnets. The company is also working on data privacy policies for the "library of scans" users create and share with doctors or AI health tools.