Midjourney CEO David Holz revealed the company's first hardware device, The Midjourney Scanner, a full-body ultrasound scanner that uses a ring of sensors to capture vertical slices of the body. The device analyzes muscle, fat, bone, and organ composition, with Holz claiming it "aims for image quality comparable to MRI in many ways." The announcement also included plans for a San Francisco spa, a shift from the company's well-known AI image generation.
This move marks a dramatic pivot for a company best known for its text-to-image AI models. By targeting medical imaging, Midjourney enters a market dominated by established players like GE Healthcare and Siemens Healthineers. The spa concept suggests a consumer wellness angle, potentially lowering barriers for regular body scans.
Holz suggested the scanner could be used annually or even daily, though no pricing or release timeline has been announced. The device is currently in a validation phase, using an imaging phantom to test how cleanly structures separate under controlled conditions. Technical specifications on sensor count and scan time remain undisclosed.
The healthcare venture faces significant regulatory hurdles in the U.S. and abroad, as medical devices require FDA clearance. Holz's vision of daily scans also raises questions about data privacy and the medical value of frequent full-body imaging for healthy individuals.
Critics may argue that the scanner's MRI-like quality claim is premature without peer-reviewed data. The Verge's report is based solely on Holz's presentation, lacking independent verification of the device's capabilities.