Overview

• Apple and Synchron are integrating the Stentrode brain-computer interface into iOS 19 and visionOS 3, enabling thought-based device control for users with mobility impairments.
• The Stentrode implant, placed in a vein above the brain's motor cortex, uses electrodes to detect neural signals without requiring invasive brain surgery.
• Early trials with ALS patient Mark Jackson demonstrated the ability to navigate Apple Vision Pro and other devices, though navigation remains slower than traditional inputs.
• Apple aims to establish a new BCI Human Interface Device protocol, building on its Switch Control framework to standardize neural-signal integration into consumer devices.
• While promising, the technology is still in development, with broader clinical trials planned for late 2025 and full FDA approval expected to take several more years.