Midjourney CEO David Holz unveiled the company's first hardware product, The Midjourney Scanner, an ultrasound-based full-body scanner. This marks a significant shift from the company's previous focus on AI-generated images, like 'cat pictures.' The scanner uses a ring of sensors to capture detailed images of the body's muscle, fat, bone, and organs.
Innovative Health Monitoring
Holz envisions the scanner as a tool for monitoring bodily changes in response to diet and exercise, 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 for the company highlight an ambition to "build and launch the world’s first full-body ultrasound CT scanner," aiming to provide fast, high-fidelity preventive scanning globally.
Partnership with Butterfly Network
The scanner was developed in collaboration with ultrasound tech company Butterfly Network, which stated the system uses "40 Butterfly Ultrasound-on-Chip™ imaging modules." The scanning process involves stepping onto a platform that lowers into water, where ultrasonic waves create detailed 3D images of the body in about 60 seconds. Holz noted around a dozen individuals have been scanned so far.
"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," Holz explained.
Future of Scanning Technology
Holz plans to install 10 scanners in a Midjourney Spa in San Francisco's Union Square by the end of 2027. This location will feature a gym, saunas, and cold plunges, complementing the hot tub-equipped scanning rooms. However, various medical applications will require FDA clearance. Currently, Midjourney Medical is focusing on creating "body composition maps" which do not need such clearance. The company assures data privacy with more policy details forthcoming.
Holz anticipates the scanner could eventually outperform MRI technology, providing rapid, non-invasive internal body imaging without the complications of radiation or powerful magnets. He envisions a regulatory future where people can gather as much data as possible on "weird" bodily phenomena.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/952011/midjourney-medical-ai-ultrasound-scan
