AI image generator Midjourney has released its first health hardware, a scanner that marks its official pivot into the health industry. While founder David Holz insists that ultrasound imaging is not just a stunt but a serious hardware effort, the Scanner is still extremely early — it has been tested on fewer than 20 human subjects.
Users must stand naked on a water-immersed platform and submerge themselves for a 60-second full-body 3D scan that is radiation-free. To make the imaging work, the Scanner is planned to integrate 40 Butterfly Network chip-based ultrasound modules, with a data throughput of 17 GB per second. Reconstructing a single slice requires a cluster of 21 servers processing 40 GB of raw data. Holz even claims that fewer than 12 devices running at full capacity 24/7 could produce more scans than all the MRI machines in the world combined. Midjourney plans to open a 25,000-square-foot hydrothermal spa, Midjourney Spa, in San Francisco by the end of 2027, where it will deploy the devices.
But ultrasound technology has physical limitations for full-body clinical diagnosis: sound waves cannot penetrate bone or air, and its 3D resolution in clinical settings is no match for MRI. Since it hasn't obtained FDA approval as a medical device, Midjourney has already retreated in its official blog, positioning the Scanner as a 'consumer health' service providing body composition maps. Opening a spa looks more like a business strategy to circumvent stringent clinical approval, serving consumers directly under the guise of wellness and relaxation.
The hardware development is backed by a five-year exclusive technology licensing agreement with ultrasound chip company Butterfly Network, signed in November 2025. The contract is valued at up to $74 million, including a $15 million upfront payment and $10 million annual licensing fees. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the deal already contributed $6.8 million in revenue to Butterfly Network. Given Butterfly Network's long-standing commercialization struggles, the cash infusion from Midjourney is crucial for sustaining chip-level ultrasound R&D.