Image Generation

Today's Stories

1. 1

   Midjourney shows off ultrasound scanner, but proof it works remains scarce

   Midjourney, the AI image-generation startup, released a behind-the-scenes video of its ultrasound scanner—described as ultrasound probes connected to off-the-shelf computers and Raspberry Pis in a modified hot tub. The nearly 20-minute tour, led by engineer Marcin Plaza, showed the hardware and team but largely sidestepped physics and imaging questions that experts raised when the project was first announced. Experts told The Verge that Midjourney has shown little evidence it can overcome the well-known limits of ultrasound or deliver the detailed images at the scale and speed it promises. The company is positioning the scanner as a wellness product focused on body composition rather than a diagnostic medical device, which allows it to sidestep FDA clearance and clinical trials—but the video still uses medical language, suggesting physicians could benefit from frequent scans over time. This approach may appeal to investors or early adopters, but the lack of independent validation leaves open questions about real-world performance.

   Midjourney plans to deploy the scanner in spas once testing is complete. CEO David Holz said the company's lack of investors gives it freedom to pursue the project without outside pressure. The company has promised frequent blog updates on progress.

2. 2

   The Day I Played Hide-and-Seek with an AI

   The Day I Played Hide-and-Seek with an AI

3. 3

   Achieving Operational Excellence with AI

   Achieving Operational Excellence with AI

4. 4

   JAPAN & AI SUMMIT 2026 session applications open June 29

   JAPAN & AI SUMMIT 2026 by FLUX will begin accepting session applications starting June 29. The event has also announced session outlines and additional speakers. The summit brings together AI industry participants to share insights and connect on developments in the field. For Japanese businesses and developers tracking AI adoption and strategy, the event serves as a key touchpoint for understanding where the sector is headed.

   Session details and the full speaker lineup are now public, making it possible to evaluate which tracks align with your interests before applications close.

5. 5

   Black Forest Labs on image generation shift from diffusion to flow matching

   Dustin Podell, cofounder and researcher at Black Forest Labs, discussed the evolution of AI image generation technology in a Practical AI Podcast episode, explaining the progression from diffusion models to flow matching and how modern image models work for editing and visual workflows. Image generation has advanced dramatically over the past three to four years—from producing blurry, vaguely related outputs to generating photorealistic content that can be used in short films and professional workflows. The core technology has improved significantly while remaining conceptually grounded in transformer-based approaches introduced in 2017, making visual AI increasingly practical for real-world applications.

   The episode covers the FLUX family of models and local image generation techniques. Black Forest Labs' work on flow matching and in-context image editing represents the technical direction the field is moving, with implications for developers and businesses building visual workflows.

6. 6

   FluidVoice - Open source voice-to-text dictation app for macOS with local AI

   FluidVoice - Open source voice-to-text dictation app for macOS with local AI