On July 30, 2024, the Brooklyn-based brain-computer interface (BCI) company Synchron announced a huge achievement. Mark, a 64-year-old ALS patient, became the first person to control the Apple Vision Pro using his thoughts, thanks to Synchron’s BCI technology. He lost the use of his upper limbs due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but he was able to play Solitaire, watch Apple TV, and send text messages hands-free using the BCI. “This is pretty cool, I've been wanting to try this for a while now,” Mark said.

Apple's Vision Pro was launched in February 2024. The headset typically relies on hand gestures, voice, and eye movements for interaction. However, Synchron’s BCI bypasses the need for these inputs by transmitting control signals directly from the brain. Tom Oxley, CEO and Founder of Synchron, explained, “BCI is a platform to re-connect people with injury or disease back to the fast-moving consumer technology landscape. Vision Pro is a powerful system, but it relies on the use of hand gestures to exert control over the UI. We are sending control signals directly from the brain to replace the need for hand gestures.” He emphasized that this new approach addresses a critical unmet need for millions of people with paralysis.

The BCI is implanted through a minimally invasive procedure via the jugular vein, placing it on the surface of the motor cortex. Once in place, it detects and wirelessly transmits motor intent from the brain, allowing users to control devices with thoughts alone. Nano-MIND is also another Neuralink-like BCI that uses magnets to target specific brain regions, hopefully leading to new neurological treatments.