Midjourney launched an ultrasound body scanner in a spa setting, alongside cold plunges and saunas, rather than through radiology partnerships. The community split. One member asked why, if the technology works, the company would not want all of medicine to use it.
A radiologist flagged the physics: bowel gas and bone limit what ultrasound can see. The business explanation offered was that the company has enough capital to go the wellness route without needing software-as-a-medical-device clearance, and by not interpreting images for cancer screening it can avoid FDA review.
The clinical worry was a wealthy gateway into multiple paid follow-up investigations of benign findings, with a high false-positive rate, anxiety and cost. One physician suggested the device may be better suited to therapy than diagnosis.
Key takeaways
- Ultrasound has physical limits that marketing does not change.
- Wellness positioning can sidestep FDA review.
- Prepare for patients arriving with incidental findings from consumer scans.
From Buzz in the chat, the longevitydocs™ Sunday newsletter, June 28, 2026. Member discussion, not clinical guidance.
Originally published in The Longevity Medicine Intelligence newsletter.
