Overview

• Apple has announced a partnership with neurotechnology firm Synchron to integrate brain-computer interface (BCI) capabilities into its devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Vision Pro headsets.
• The Stentrode, Synchron's minimally invasive brain implant, reads neural signals from the motor cortex and translates them into digital commands for device control.
• The new BCI Human Interface Device protocol will debut in iOS 19 and visionOS 3 later this year, expanding accessibility through Apple's Switch Control framework.
• Mark Jackson, an ALS patient and early tester of the Stentrode, has demonstrated the ability to control Apple devices and explore virtual environments using thought alone.
• While the technology shows promise, it remains in early development, with broader FDA approval and widespread commercial availability expected to take several years.