Midjourney, an AI image-generation startup, is pivoting into medical imaging with an ultrasound scanner that would scan users in water, but medical experts say the company has provided little evidence to support its claims that the device could match MRI quality.

What happened

Midjourney announced a whole-body ultrasound scanner that would lower users into a vat of water, use a ring of underwater sensors to send sound waves into the body, and generate internal images in about 60 seconds. The company is not initially positioning it as a medical diagnostic device—citing the high cost of FDA clearance and clinical trials—but rather as a wellness tool for spas.

What to watch

The company plans to eventually expand into medical applications, but medical experts emphasized there is "a long road ahead to generating high-quality images and then to understand the clinical value and demonstrate net benefit to patients." Midjourney has shown only low-resolution prototype images so far, and no current evidence exists that detailed ultrasound scans could be comparable to MRI.