Credit: CFP

TMTPOST -- Synchron Inc. has publicly demonstrated the world’s first successful control of Apple devices — including the iPad, iPhone, and Vision Pro — using only brain signals, marking a watershed moment in the evolution of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology.

The U.S.-based startup showcased a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using an implanted BCI system to operate the devices entirely hands-free, voice-free, and eye-free. The milestone was enabled by Apple Inc.’s recently announced Brain-Computer Interface Human Interface Device (BCI HID) protocol — a new accessibility framework that allows Apple operating systems to accept brain signals as a native input method alongside touch, keyboard, and voice.

“This is the first time the world has seen native, thought-driven control of an Apple device in action,” said Tom Oxley, founder and CEO of Synchron. “It’s a technical breakthrough and a preview of a future where cognitive input becomes mainstream.”

The demonstration featured “Mark,” a participant in Synchron’s COMMAND clinical study, navigating an iPad home screen, opening apps, and composing text — all powered by the company's Stentrode™, an implantable device inserted into the brain via the vascular system. Unlike Elon Musk’s Neuralink, which requires open-brain surgery, Synchron’s minimally invasive approach reduces surgical risk and supports broader clinical adoption.

The Stentrode detects motor intent from within the blood vessels of the brain’s motor cortex and transmits those signals wirelessly to a decoder. That decoder then communicates directly with Apple devices using the BCI HID protocol and Apple’s Switch Control accessibility feature. The closed-loop system allows for real-time screen interaction optimized through contextual data sharing between the device and the BCI.

“Now, with my iPad, I can message my loved ones, read the news, and stay connected with the world — just by thinking,” said Mark in the demonstration video. “It’s given me part of my life back.”

Often cited as the strongest competitor to Neuralink, Synchron made history by receiving the first-ever FDA approvalfor a BCI clinical trial in 2021 — two years ahead of Musk’s company. It has since implanted the system in six U.S. patients, enabling tasks like email, online shopping, and social media activity using only neural signals.

Synchron has also attracted an elite group of backers. Its Series C round included investments from Gates Frontier (Bill Gates’ private fund) and Bezos Expeditions (Jeff Bezos’ family office). But among the earliest believers was Chinese entrepreneur and philanthropist Chen Tianqiao, who invested in Synchron in 2021 — before either Gates or Bezos.

Chen, founder of Shanda Group, has been a longtime supporter of brain science, having pledged $1 billion to neuroscience initiatives globally. His institute at Caltech was an early backer of invasive BCI research, and his ties to China’s leading medical institutions and startups — including BrainCo and Huashan Hospital — have positioned him as a pivotal figure in bridging global BCI development.

“The brain is humanity’s final frontier,” Chen said in a statement. “By investing in companies like Synchron, we aim to accelerate the convergence of neuroscience and AI. We’re not just investors — we’re active participants in a revolution.”

Apple’s introduction of BCI-native protocols across its devices may be a harbinger of a broader shift in the user interface paradigm. With Apple Vision Pro, iPhone, and iPad now interoperable with Synchron’s neural input system, the BCI experience moves closer to consumer viability.

Synchron says it will continue controlled rollouts with clinical participants, with plans for broader availability in the coming years. The combination of Apple’s ecosystem, real-time contextual feedback, and intuitive cognitive control could help push brain-driven computing beyond assistive tech into the mainstream.

As Oxley puts it: “This isn’t just about accessibility — it’s about redefining how we interact with technology.”