Apple keeps on bringing and working towards the innovation that can be helpful for people. The tech giant is now pioneering in a transformative leap that will change how we perceive technology. The company is now developing a brain-computer interface (BCI) that could allow users to control iPhones, iPads, and other devices using brain.
The initiative is taken in collaboration with the neurotechnology company Synchron that aims to empower individuals who are suffering from severe mobility impairments. This technology will enable hands-free and voice free interaction with Apple devices for people who are suffering with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or spinal cord injuries.
Synchron’s Stentrode: A Non-Invasive Neural Interface
A report published in the Wall Street Journal reported that Apple is working in collaboration with a brain-interface company called Synchron. The company is building a stent-like device called the Stentrode which will be at the heart of this development.
Synchron’s Stentrode will be a minimally invasive brain implant that will be positioned in a vein near the motor cortex. It will be equipped with the 16 electrodes and the device will be able to capture the motor-related brain activity. This doesn’t require open-brain surgery. Additionally, these neural signals will be then translated into the device commands through Apple’s Switch Control feature.
JUST IN – Apple wants people to control their devices with their thoughts — Apple has new tech intended to enable people to control their iPhones and other devices with neural signals captured by a new generation of brain implants, WSJ reports pic.twitter.com/F8NLWHPsZg
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) May 13, 2025
Once the feature will be on, the device will allow users to navigate and interact with their devices using thought alone. The technology is said to be hopeful and convenient for people who are suffering from severe spinal cord injuries or ALS.
Synchron’s CEO Tom Oxley says, “Today, brain computer-interface companies have to trick computers into thinking the signals coming from their implants are coming from a mouse.”
The technology has been used on a early user Mark Jackson who is suffering from ALS and have successfully used this technology to control iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro Headset.
Integration with Apple’s Ecosystem
Apple is planning to release software for developers by the end of this year and facilitating broader integration of Brain-Computer Interface technology across all its platforms. The initiative is part of company’s commitment towards easy accessibility including features like Eye Tracking and Head Tracking for people with diverse needs.
Comparing BCI (Brain-Computer Interface) Technologies: Synchron vs. Neuralink
Other companies are also working towards this technology like Elon Musk Neuralink’s N1 implant that contains more than 1,000 electrodes implanted directly into the brain. It helps in capturing more detailed neural data.
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