Midjourney, widely known for its AI image generation tools, has announced a move into healthcare with the launch of a new division and a full-body ultrasound scanning system designed to produce rapid internal body images.

The company has unveiled “Midjourney Medical,” which is developing a scanner that can reportedly generate detailed 3D images of muscles, organs, bones and body composition in around 60 seconds while a user stands in a shallow pool of water inside a spa-like facility.

Unlike MRI or CT scans, the system uses multiple ultrasound sensors arranged in a ring around the body.

These sensors emit sound waves from different angles, with computer systems reconstructing the data into full-body images.

The company says the process is non-invasive, fast and does not use radiation.

The move marks Midjourney’s first step into hardware and healthcare, expanding beyond its core business in AI-generated imagery.

Founder David Holz said the long-term goal is to make preventive health scanning as routine as dental check-ups.

The company plans to build up to 50,000 scanners capable of processing up to one billion scans per month by 2031, starting with a wellness centre in San Francisco expected to open in 2027.

Initially, the scanner will be positioned as a wellness product rather than a medical diagnostic tool, with regulatory approval being sought for broader clinical use in the future.

The announcement has drawn interest from parts of the technology sector, but medical experts have urged caution about how the scans are interpreted.

According to reports, radiologists warn that widespread screening could lead to false positives, potentially causing unnecessary anxiety and follow-up procedures.

They also note that ultrasound imaging has limitations compared to MRI and CT scans in diagnosing certain conditions.

Cardiologist Eric Topol told MarketWatch the technology shows promise but is unlikely to replace MRI for applications such as brain imaging, suggesting it may instead complement existing preventive screening methods if supported by clinical evidence.

Science communicator Hank Green also said ultrasound should not be directly compared with MRI, stressing that it remains one of several diagnostic tools rather than a replacement.

The company says the system primarily relies on ultrasound hardware and computational imaging, with artificial intelligence expected to play a larger role later in analysing scan data once regulatory approvals are secured.