Apple may be developing technology that would allow you to control your iPhone with just your thoughts

Apple is reportedly working on new technology that will allow users to control their iPhones and other smart devices with their thoughts. The Cupertino company is expected to launch the technology in partnership with Synchron, a startup specializing in neural devices.

The main goal of this technology is to help people with disabilities, such as those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), control iPhones/iPads using brain signals received through the implant. According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple is waiting for competitors such as Elon Musk's Neuralink to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before widely deploying.

This information was announced after Apple launched a series of new accessibility support features for iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch. Notably, users can now know which applications support specific accessibility features. Some of the new features include: Magnifier application, Braille Experience, Accessibility Reader, Live Captions and Enhanced View.

Apple is working with Synchron to integrate the Stentrode, a device with electrodes that reads brain signals. The Stentrode helps 'translate signals into on-screen icon selections' through Apple's Switch Control feature. This mechanism is similar to the Bluetooth feature for hearing aids, allowing communication with the iPhone via Bluetooth.

The technology works by implanting a stentrode into a blood vessel near the motor cortex – the area of ​​the brain that controls movement. The device decodes nerve signals, allowing users to control devices with just their thoughts. Mark Jackson – an ALS patient – ​​has successfully tested using brain signals to control an iPhone and Vision Pro virtual reality glasses.

" I can 'stand on the edge of the Swiss Alps and feel my legs shaking' through Vision Pro, even though I'm actually in Pennsylvania, " Jackson shared. However, Synchron's technology is still in its infancy and cannot yet simulate mouse movements or screen touches, so scrolling speeds are slower than usual.

Apple plans to launch a universal software standard later this year that will enable more developers to build brain-controlled interface-compatible apps, said Tom Oxley, CEO of Synchron. The move paves the way for a future where neurotechnology will bridge the gap between humans and devices, especially for people with disabilities.

Despite many challenges, the combination of Apple and Synchron promises to bring a breakthrough solution, turning the idea of ​​"mind control" from science fiction into reality.

Lesley Montoya

Update 26 May 2025