ALS Patient Controls iPad via Apple Brain-Computer Interface

Apple has introduced a brain-computer interface (BCI) Human Interface Device (HID) protocol that allows users with neural implants to control Apple devices such as iPads and iPhones solely through thought. Synchron, a medical company, demonstrated this technology with Mark Jackson, an ALS patient implanted with their Stentrode device, which reads brain signals from the motor cortex via a minimally invasive procedure. Jackson can navigate the iPad home screen, open apps, and compose messages without using his hands, voice, or eyes, relying on Apple's accessibility feature Switch Control integrated with the BCI HID protocol. This development marks a significant advancement in accessibility and human-computer interaction by enabling native, thought-driven control of Apple devices, with the system dynamically sharing contextual data to improve responsiveness. Synchron has implanted the Stentrode in ten patients under FDA approval, and Apple plans to expand support for this protocol across its platforms throughout 2025. The BCI HID standard also opens the door for other neural implant companies, including Neuralink, to connect with Apple devices more seamlessly in the future.