The AI image generation company Midjourney has been making headlines in recent years for its ability to produce stunningly realistic images of just about anything – from cats to landscapes. But it looks like the company’s CEO David Holz is trading in those digital pictures for something a bit more tangible: full-body ultrasound scans.
At first glance, it might seem like an unexpected pivot for Midjourney to move into medical imaging. But Holz claims that this side project could be “in many ways superior to even MRI machines”. So, what exactly is behind this ambitious technology?
The device in question is called The Midjourney Scanner, and it’s a massive machine that resembles a large hot tub from the outside. Inside, it uses a ring of sensors to capture vertical slices of the inside of your body – looking at everything from muscle mass to organ composition. According to Holz, this can be done quickly and painlessly, with scans taking just 60 seconds.
But what’s most interesting about The Midjourney Scanner is how it plans to integrate its cutting-edge technology into a unique setting: a spa. That’s right – the company is planning to open a luxurious spa in San Francisco’s Union Square that will feature not only hot tub-equipped scanning rooms but also gyms, saunas, and cold plunges for guests.
So what makes this possible? It turns out that Midjourney has partnered with ultrasound tech company Butterfly Network on the development of The Midjourney Scanner. This partnership enables the use of 40 Butterfly Ultrasound-on-Chip modules per system – a significant advance in imaging technology.
To see how it works, simply step onto a platform that drops down into the water below. The sensors then send ultrasonic sound waves through your body from every angle, using AI to form a detailed 3D image of what’s happening inside you.
But as impressive as this sounds, one still can’t help but wonder: what exactly does this have to do with midjourney’s AI image generation tech? Beyond potentially reusing unused compute for the medical effort – it seems like an unrelated business venture for now. One thing is certain though: Midjourney Medical plans to put 10 of these scanners into the new spa location, which is set to open before the end of 2027.
As part of its grand vision, Holz hopes that “body composition maps” created with The Midjourney Scanner can be used for medical applications – though he’s quick to mention that those would require FDA clearances. For now, it seems like users will be able to share their scanned data with AI health tools and other services.
Needless to say, we’re excited to see where this technology will go from here. With The Midjourney Scanner poised to revolutionize the world of medical imaging, we can only imagine what new heights it will reach in years to come.
So why should you care about all this? Simply put: medical imaging is a massive field with a massive problem – high costs, long wait times, and limited access for many. If The Midjourney Scanner truly lives up to its claims of being superior to MRI machines while offering safe and fast preventative scanning, then we have yet another reason to believe in the future of this ambitious technology.
After all, even for those who can’t afford these luxury treatments today, having access to cheaper and more efficient medical imaging solutions could change everything. We’re eager to see where The Midjourney Scanner will lead us – whether it’s paving a new path for preventative care, reducing healthcare costs or making advanced diagnostic testing widely accessible.
Source: The Verge
