Midjourney's medical scanner video raises more questions than answers

Midjourney, the AI image generation startup, has released a nearly 20-minute behind-the-scenes video of its futuristic medical scanner—a dunk-tank ultrasound device it hopes to deploy in spas and eventually transform medicine. The tour, led by company engineer and tech YouTuber Marcin Plaza, frankly describes the hardware as scores of ultrasound probes "hacked apart and slapped on a glorified hot tub with an elevator in it," connected to off-the-shelf computers and Raspberry Pis. While the video showcases the team and build process, it largely glosses over the physics and imaging challenges that experts flagged when the project was first announced. Those experts told The Verge that Midjourney has shown little evidence it can overcome the well-known limitations of ultrasound or produce the detailed, rapid scans it promises.

Midjourney has emphasized that the scanner will launch as a wellness product focused on body composition, rather than a diagnostic medical device, which would require FDA clearance and clinical trials. In the video, head of medical Tom Calloway said this focus lets the company "speedrun" and open immediately after testing. Yet the video still uses medical language, asking what physicians could do with frequent scans over time. CEO David Holz highlighted that Midjourney's lack of investors gives the company freedom to pursue the scanner, saying, "No one can tell me not to do it." Calloway dismissed the need for clarification, promising regular progress blogs. The video leaves many questions unanswered about the scanner's actual capabilities.