Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are becoming a new frontier for Apple, which is developing a standard that may allow users to manage devices like iPhones, iPads, and the Vision Pro headset using only their minds. A comprehensive report from The Wall Street Journal highlights that this technology is still in the nascent phase and is being co-developed with the US startup Synchron as part of Apple’s significant focus on accessibility.
Highlights
How It Works
The core of Apple’s BCI initiative revolves around the Stentrode, a device created by Synchron that resembles a stent. In contrast to Elon Musk’s Neuralink, which uses more than 1,000 electrodes implanted directly into the brain, the Stentrode takes a less invasive approach by being inserted into a vein close to the motor cortex. Following its insertion, the device’s 16 electrodes detect brain signals and convert them into digital commands, according to The Wall Street Journal.
These neural signals work seamlessly with Apple’s existing Switch Control feature, which forms part of its accessibility suite. Traditionally enabling alternative input methods like joysticks or head movements, this system is now capable of directly receiving brain signals, allowing users to perform simple navigation across Apple’s platforms.
Mark Jackson, an early user living with ALS near Pittsburgh, has successfully used the system to operate his iPhone and iPad. He has even explored the Swiss Alps through the Vision Pro. Even though he is physically unable to move, Jackson has reportedly felt the experience of standing on a mountaintop thanks to the synchronized neural feedback coupled with Apple’s mixed-reality headset, as mentioned in the Journal.
Apple to Release BCI Software Standard
Previously, BCI developers have needed to simulate mouse or keyboard functions to communicate with software. Apple’s anticipated software standard, set to debut later this year, will provide a genuine interface for developers creating applications that interpret neural signals. This advancement could lead to quicker and more fluid control experiences, paving the way for a new wave of assistive technology, as reported by the Journal.
Since 2019, Synchron has successfully implanted its device in 10 patients, receiving optimistic safety reports. The company is also investigating potential integration with AI tools like ChatGPT and has established a community portal for individuals interested in future trials.
Apple’s track record of setting communication standards for devices aimed at improving accessibility—such as its 2014 framework for Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids—could become a blueprint for broader acceptance and cohesion within the brain-controlled interface market.
Neuralink’s Deeper Approach
On the other hand, Neuralink, co-founded by Elon Musk, is adopting a more aggressive stance on BCIs. The N1 implant, already trialled in three human patients, contains over 1,000 electrodes implanted directly into the brain. This setup allegedly allows for quicker and more precise control, with Musk asserting that the initial human trial participant could manipulate a digital cursor more rapidly than most using a traditional mouse.
While Neuralink focuses on both accessibility and cognitive enhancement, Synchron and Apple concentrate on practical applications for individuals with motor disabilities.
A Long Road Ahead
According to the report by The Wall Street Journal, Morgan Stanley suggests that approximately 150,000 Americans with severe upper-limb limitations may be among the earliest to gain from commercial BCI systems. The investment firm anticipates that these technologies may secure FDA approval by 2030, although Synchron’s CEO Tom Oxley expresses optimism for a quicker timeframe.
Though there is considerable excitement, broad acceptance may still be several years into the future. Both Synchron’s and Neuralink’s systems are still in the initial stages of development, with current usability being limited and control speeds lagging behind traditional inputs. Nonetheless, Apple’s involvement adds significant credibility to the BCI field and could expedite its integration into consumer technology, pushing the limits of human-device interaction towards a realm where digital existence is managed through thought alone.