Tech Desk 
Aug 07, 2025
Taking a massive leap towards the creation and subsequent launch of thought-controlled iPhones and iPads, Apple has introduced its new Brain-Computer Interface Human Interface Device (BCI HID) protocol.
Paving the way for direct thought-controlled iPads and iPhones, the first public demonstration of Apple's thought-controlled technology involved a person with a neurological disorder navigating apps and typing messages without physically interacting with the device.
As reported by Tech Juice, the feat has been achieved in collaboration with neurological startup Synchron, which developed the Stentrode implant.
How Apple's thought-controlled device works?
The Stentrode implant is carried out through a slightly invasive procedure via a vein to the brain’s motor cortex. It captures neural signals linked to intended movements and wirelessly transmits them to an external decoder. After that, Apple’s Switch Control accessibility feature, coupled with the new BCI HID protocol, translates these signals into commands within iPadOS.
Apple's thought-controlled system's real-world demo with ALS patient
In a startling demo, a participant named Mark, who has ALS and is part of Synchron’s COMMAND clinical study, was seen fully controlling an iPad using only his thoughts.
The person opened apps, composed messages, and streamed content without touch, voice, or eye gestures, proving a breathtaking milestone in human-computer interaction.
