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Jun 18, 20261
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Midjourney Enters Medical Hardware With Full-Body Ultrasonic Scanner

Midjourney, the AI image generator, is developing a full-body ultrasonic scanner that completes scans in 60 seconds and plans to house the technology in spas. The company has partnered with Butterfly Network and aims to deploy 50,000 scanners globally by 2031, marking a major shift into medical hardware.



Quick Facts
Who
Midjourney
What
Announced Midjourney Medical division
When
November 2025 (licensing agreement signed)
Where
San Francisco
- Announced Midjourney Medical division
- Developed full-body ultrasonic scanner
- Signed licensing agreement with Butterfly Network for ultrasound-on-chip technology
- Planning to open spas with scanner technology
- Seeking FDA approval for diagnostic capabilities
Midjourney, the AI image generator known for creating images from text prompts, has announced an ambitious pivot into medical hardware with the development of a full-body ultrasonic scanner capable of completing scans in 60 seconds. The project, launched under the new Midjourney Medical division, marks a significant departure from the company's core business and represents its first foray into hardware products.
The Midjourney Scanner uses half a million ultrasonic sensors arranged in a ring, each smaller than a grain of sand, to create detailed three-dimensional maps of the human body. Users step onto a platform and are submerged in water at a rate of 2 inches per second as they pass through the sensor ring. The ultrasonic waves emitted by these sensors bounce off the body and are recorded, producing images comparable to MRI scans but at nearly 100 times the speed. The company drew inspiration from dolphin echolocation in describing the technology's approach to full-body imaging.
Midjourney developed the scanner in partnership with Butterfly Network, a handheld ultrasound device maker. The companies signed a licensing agreement in November 2025 that granted Midjourney exclusive rights to Butterfly Network's ultrasound-on-chip technology. Ahmad Abbas, who joined Midjourney in late 2023 as head of consumer hardware projects after working on Apple's Vision Pro, leads the project.
The company's rollout plan is aggressive and phased. Over the next 12 months, Midjourney will refine algorithms, conduct research trials, and design a second-generation machine. The company plans to open its first spa housing Scanners in San Francisco in 2027. Subsequent phases include FDA approval for diagnostic capabilities and the launch of a third-generation machine using custom silicon in 2028. Midjourney aims to have 50,000 Scanners operational worldwide by 2031. The company has stated that widespread early imaging could potentially prevent 30 percent of all deaths and 50 percent of healthcare costs globally.
Why This Matters
Midjourney's entry into medical hardware with an ultrasonic scanner that rivals MRI speed and cost could democratize preventive healthcare globally. If the company succeeds in obtaining FDA approval and deploying 50,000 units by 2031, the technology could reshape diagnostic imaging accessibility, reduce healthcare costs, and potentially prevent millions of deaths annually. This shift positions a major AI firm as a serious contender in medical device innovation.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 18, 2026
WireMidjourney announced Midjourney Medical division and full-body ultrasonic scanner project
Jan 1, 2027
WirePlanned opening of first spa housing Midjourney Scanners in San Francisco
Jan 1, 2028
WirePlanned launch of third-generation machine using custom silicon
Jan 1, 2031
WireTarget deployment of 50,000 Scanners worldwide