In a bold move that could redefine digital accessibility worldwide, Apple is reportedly working with brain-computer interface (BCI) company Synchron to develop technology that allows users to control their iPhones and other Apple devices using their minds.
The technology giant has ventured into exploring how neural signals captured by implanted devices can be translated into screen inputs, significantly aiding users with severe physical disabilities such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal cord injuries.
Initially reported by The Wall Street Journal on May 13, this new initiative aligns Apple with the broader neurotech frontier, where billionaires such as Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Bill Gates have recently focused their investments. While most of the technologies being driven by these players in the current tech environment are taking an invasive road into BCI that involves devices that are implanted within parts of the brain, competitors like Cognixion, Nudge, and BrainCo have opted for a less invasive approach, which Apple now also appears to be taking.
Namely, Synchron’s device, which it calls the Stentrode, is implanted in blood vessels near the brain’s motor cortex, instead of drilling into the brain to insert electrodes for its BCI as Neuralink does with its technology known as The Link.
“Synchron’s brain-computer interface (BCI) device, also known as the Stentrode, is a minimally invasive device that detects brain signals related to movement intention,” Kimberly Ha, Communications Lead at Synchron, previously told The Debrief in a September 2024 email. The stent-like implant then decodes these brain signals and converts them into commands, enabling users to interact with digital devices without moving a muscle.
The partnership with Apple and a BCI company like Synchron marks a historic first, which Kurt Haggstrom, Chief Commercial Officer of Synchron, discussed with The Debrief in an interview explaining how the partnership came about.
“The reality is they (Apple) have an amazing mission, and they have an accessibility team focused on making sure that people can live a fuller life,” Haggstrom said, express his admiration for the tech giant’s similar mindset and goals.
“To be honest with you, it was like a breath of fresh air to meet these individuals that you’re looking at, and we share the same thing—we share the same mission,” Haggstrom said. “And they basically said… ‘how can we help?’”
Currently, the technology is being tested as an accessibility feature on Apple devices. The company’s existing Switch Control allows users to operate their mobile device using external assistive devices like the Hook+ Switch Interface, AbleNet Blue2 Switch, or related hearing devices such as Made for iPhone (MFi) hearing aids and cochlear implants.
“So it’s not thinking, like a mouse or a keyboard, it’s a BCI,” Haggstrom told The Debrief. “I think that opens up a whole different realm of giving individuals more independence, more freedom, [and] more autonomy.”
“At Apple, accessibility is part of our DNA,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, in a statement. “Making technology for everyone is a priority for all of us, and we’re proud of the innovations we’re sharing this year. That includes tools to help people access crucial information, explore the world around them, and do what they love.”
The application is being leveraged as the input pathway for Synchron’s neural signals. This technological leap could potentially open new avenues for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or severe spinal cord injuries.
One early adopter of the technology, Mark Jackson, lives with ALS and has recently used the technology to explore a virtual Alpine landscape via Apple’s Vision Pro headset. Even more impressively, he is now learning to operate his Apple devices—an iPhone and an iPad—using only his mind.
While the interface is still in its early stages and slower than a touchscreen or mouse, it showcases the powerful potential of combining neural implants with the accessibility of Apple’s features. It marks a historic first for this type of BCI integration.
Apple has not officially announced the partnership, but has long demonstrated interest in healthcare and accessibility technology. In 2014, it launched a standard allowing hearing aids to connect to iPhones via Bluetooth, revolutionizing hearing aid compatibility. By partnering with Synchron, Apple could lay the groundwork for another industry-defining accessibility platform.
When large tech giants collaborate on human-interest problems, big data must always be considered. The human body is a data collection device and a sensor itself; but who gets that data when companies like this collaborate?
Haggstrom notes that companies which collect data, especially in the area of digital health, are responsible for managing and protecting it. Whether it is tech data obtained by large companies, or data collected by everyday devices like iPhones and Fitbits, he suggests that it is important to treat patient-facing data with great care as technology advances, similar to how hospitals or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) help ensure high standards of protection.
“You control the data, you own the data. It’s coming from your systems,” Haggstrom said, “whether it’s a key press and you’re starting to log on key presses, or whether it’s a neural signal.”
With the advancement of AI technology, policy is actively being designed to help shape the future, while BCIs can quickly fall into a similar category. Without policy and regulation, companies and consumer brands could shape neurological communities, not only in science but also in society, as technology advances over the years.
Speaking with The Debrief, Haggstrom also expressed his thoughts regarding the regulation of such technologies. “ I don’t think it’s going to be one just one policy for all,” Haggstrom said. “I think you’ll have to look at all these things across the board. I think it is an evolving conversation.”
Haggstrom also shared his thoughts on how BCI communities collaborate and think about ethics and policy as the industry develops. “That could be where policy looks and says, okay, what is the collective industry? What does the collective collaborative community think about this? These types of issues and these types of questions.”
“I don’t think it’s quite there yet, but I think it’s evolving,” Haggstrom said, “and I think it will continue to evolve.”
Synchron CEO Tom Oxley told The Wall Street Journal that Apple is currently developing a dedicated interface standard to support BCI-based control of its devices, which may be released later this year. Unlike Neuralink’s N1 chip, which contains over 1,000 electrodes placed directly inside the brain and has enabled faster cursor control, Synchron’s Stentrode prioritizes safety and regulatory compliance.
Since 2019, Synchron has implanted the device in ten patients, and the company believes it could successfully obtain commercial approval before 2030.
With a growing need for such innovative technologies, global financial services provider Morgan Stanley has estimated that around 150,000 Americans with upper-limb impairments could soon benefit from brain-computer interface systems. As the technology advances, brain-computer interfaces and similar innovations could ultimately represent a new paradigm in the way humans interact with the devices around us.
Chrissy Newton is a PR professional and founder of VOCAB Communications. She currently appears on The Discovery Channel and Max and hosts the Rebelliously Curious podcast, which can be found on YouTube and on all audio podcast streaming platforms. Follow her on X: @ChrissyNewton, Instagram: @BeingChrissyNewton, and chrissynewton.com.