A new ultrasound machine that uses artificial intelligence (AI) is helping the seafood industry check tuna quality faster and more safely. The tool, called Sonofai, was made by Japanese tech company Fujitsu and a startup also named Sonofai.
This machine uses ultrasound waves and AI to check the fat content of frozen tuna in only 12 seconds. The old way of checking involved cutting the fish’s tail with a special knife, which took about a minute and needed skilled workers.
Fat content is very important for setting the price of tuna used in sushi and sashimi. Before, experts would look at the fish to guess how fatty it was. Now, Sonofai can do this automatically. The fish goes on a conveyor belt, and ultrasound sensors scan it. Then, the AI reads the signals to measure the fat. Fatty parts absorb less sound, and the software filters out any errors to give clear results.
The technology is similar to what’s used in hospitals for body scans but without any harmful radiation. It’s made for large seafood factories, not restaurants.
Sonofai will go on sale in Japan in June for about 30 million yen (around £160,000). It will be sold in other countries later, including the U.S. In the future, updates will allow it to check things like freshness and how firm the fish is. It may also be able to scan other kinds of fish.
This tool is meant for businesses like seafood processors, fishing groups, and distributors—especially as the global demand for high-quality sushi keeps growing.
Source: fdiforum
