Midjourney, the company best known for its AI image generation service that can produce anything from photorealistic landscapes to whimsical cat pictures, has taken a sharp turn into medical hardware. CEO David Holz recently showcased the company's first physical product: a full-body ultrasound scanner called The Midjourney Scanner. In a livestreamed event, Holz described the device as a side project that could eventually surpass MRI machines in many ways, aiming to provide safe, fast, and high-fidelity preventative scanning to billions of people. The revelation comes as a surprise to many, given Midjourney's previous focus on software and creative tools.
The scanner uses a ring of thousands of transducers arranged in a toroidal array. Users step onto a platform that descends into a pool of water, and as they pass through the ring, ultrasonic waves are emitted from every angle. These waves travel through the body, and the system records how they reflect and refract off different tissues. With over 40 Butterfly Ultrasound-on-Chip imaging modules per system (developed in partnership with Butterfly Network), the scanner generates vertical slices of muscle, fat, bone, and organs. Holz says the process takes about 60 seconds, after which sophisticated AI algorithms stitch the data into a detailed 3D image. About a dozen people have been scanned so far, and the company claims the system uses two petaflops of processing power to reconstruct the body's internal structure.
Midjourney Medical, the division behind the scanner, emphasizes that the initial focus is on body composition maps rather than diagnostic imaging—a distinction that helps sidestep some FDA regulatory hurdles for now. These maps show the distribution of muscle, fat, and bone, allowing individuals to track changes over time in response to diet, exercise, or medical treatments. Holz expressed interest in using the scanner for personal health optimization, saying he wants to "see how his body changes" daily. The device is designed for frequent use—potentially every day—without the radiation exposure associated with CT scans or the strong magnetic fields required for MRI.
Holz also revealed plans for a physical location: the Midjourney Spa, set to open in San Francisco's Union Square before the end of 2027. The spa will house 10 scanners in hot tub–equipped rooms, along with a gym, saunas, and cold plunges. Visitors will enter the water to be scanned, then discuss the results with staff or AI health tools. The scanning experience is described as stepping into a shallow pool of golden light and descending into the water, with the sensors acting "like a dolphin using echolocation." Midjourney promises that data privacy will be a priority, though detailed policies are still forthcoming.
This foray into health technology is not entirely out of character for Midjourney. The company has consistently pushed the boundaries of what AI can do, and its image generation models rely on massive computing power. Holz suggested that the scanner project leverages idle compute capacity, though the exact connection between Midjourney's AI image generation and the ultrasound analysis remains unclear. The scanner uses AI to segment and interpret the ultrasound data, creating overlays that highlight different tissue types—similar to how Midjourney's image generator can segment objects in a photograph. However, the hardware itself is a radical departure from the software-only model.
The partnership with Butterfly Network is a key component of the scanner's development. Butterfly Network is known for its miniaturized ultrasound-on-chip technology, which replaces traditional piezoelectric crystals with semiconductor-based capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs). This allows for a compact, scalable array that can be arranged in a ring. Butterfly's technology has been used in handheld ultrasound devices for point-of-care diagnostics, but this is the first large-scale integration into a full-body scanner. The 40 modules per system provide a dense field of sensors capable of capturing high-resolution images from multiple angles simultaneously.
The potential applications extend beyond body composition. Holz imagines a future where the scanner could detect early signs of disease, monitor organ health, or even track the progression of musculoskeletal conditions. He noted that the system could be trained to identify "weird" anomalies—things that deviate from a healthy baseline. However, these diagnostic capabilities would require FDA clearance, which Midjourney Medical has not yet pursued. For now, the company is targeting the wellness and preventive health market, where regulations are less stringent. The spa concept reinforces this focus: it's not a medical clinic but a luxury facility where people can check their internal metrics as part of a holistic lifestyle.
Critics have raised questions about the practicality and safety of the device. Ultrasound is generally considered safe at low intensities, but full-body exposure over many sessions has not been extensively studied. The water immersion also introduces hygiene and accessibility challenges. Moreover, the claim that the scanner could be "superior to even MRI machines" seems ambitious given that MRI provides superior soft-tissue contrast and is the gold standard for many neurological and musculoskeletal exams. Ultrasonography is limited by its inability to penetrate bone and air-filled cavities, and while the ring array improves coverage, it may not fully overcome these limitations.
Nevertheless, Midjourney's entry into health technology signals a broader trend of AI companies diversifying into hardware with wellness applications. Other AI startups have explored wearable sensors, sleep trackers, and AI-powered diagnostic tools, but none have attempted a full-body scanner in a spa setting. The combination of AI segmentation, ultrasound arrays, and consumer-focused wellness could create a new market for frequent body scanning, similar to how smart scales now track weight and body fat. Whether consumers will embrace the idea of being scanned daily in a pool of water remains to be seen, but Midjourney is betting that the desire for data—and the theatrical experience—will attract a dedicated following.
Holz's vision extends beyond San Francisco. He hinted at eventual expansion to other cities, and the company is already hiring for roles related to hardware engineering, software development, and spa operations. The job postings describe the goal as "building and launching the world’s first full-body ultrasound CT scanner, ultimately bringing safe, fast, and high fidelity preventative scanning to billions via a magical spa experience." The use of the term "CT scanner" is notable because the device does not use X-rays; it's a tomographic ultrasound concept. Marketing language aside, the technical challenges of achieving consistent, high-resolution scans across different body types and ages are significant.
Midjourney's previous work in AI image generation may prove valuable in post-processing the ultrasound data. The company's expertise in deep learning for image synthesis could be applied to denoise, reconstruct, and segment the raw ultrasonic signals. The AI segmentation overlays shown in the announcement—color-coded maps of muscle, fat, and bone—resemble the kind of automated segmentation used in medical imaging research. If Midjourney can refine these algorithms, the scanner could offer not just anatomical images but functional insights, such as estimating muscle quality or detecting edema.
The timeline for the scanner's commercial availability remains vague. The spa is slated for 2027, and pricing for scans has not been announced. It's possible that the scanner will only be available at the spa at first, limiting access to those who can travel and pay a premium. Eventually, Midjourney may license the technology to other wellness centers or develop a smaller version for home use—though the requirement for a water pool and large sensor ring makes miniaturization difficult.
In the meantime, Midjourney continues to grow its core AI image generation business, which recently added new features like video generation and style reference. The scanner project, while ambitious, may be seen as a long-term bet on the convergence of AI, hardware, and health. Holz acknowledged the oddness of the shift in his announcement: "It's a bit different from the cat pictures," he said, referring to Midjourney's early viral success. But he argued that the same underlying technology—patterns learned from data—could be applied to understand the human body as well as it understands images. Whether that leap will be as successful as the leap from abstract art to ultrasound is a question only time—and many scans—will answer.
The company's emphasis on the spa experience is also a strategic move to differentiate from clinical diagnostics. By framing scanning as a luxurious, relaxing activity—complete with golden light and warm water—Midjourney hopes to reduce the medical anxiety associated with scans. The spa will include a gym, saunas, and cold plunges, creating a complete wellness destination. Holz even offered to scan attendees' hands at the launch event, demonstrating the speed and novelty of the device. The response from early participants has been positive, with many reporting amazement at seeing their internal anatomy in real time.
Ultimately, the success of the Midjourney Scanner will depend on its accuracy, safety, and the value of the data it provides. If it can offer meaningful insights into body composition that help people improve their health, it may carve out a niche in the wellness industry. If it remains a novelty—a fun but fleeting experience—it may join the ranks of other tech-backed health fads. For now, the AI company that started with cats is betting that the future of health lies in water, ultrasound, and a touch of magic.
Source:The Verge News