In what could easily pass as the next episode of Black Mirror, Apple (AAPL) is exploring a future where an iPhone responds to nothing but the power of your mind. The tech giant has quietly partnered with brain-computer interface (BCI) company Synchron.
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A brain-computer interface, or BCI, is technology that reads brain signals and translates them into digital commands to control devices without touch. Their goal? To test whether thought-controlled devices can move from the realm of science fiction into everyday tech reality.
Synchron’s Stentrode Turns Brain Signals into Digital Commands
The tech behind this is something straight out of science fiction. Synchron’s Stentrode works by being implanted into a blood vessel near the brain’s motor cortex. Unlike risky open brain surgery, this implant takes a far less invasive route. The Stentrode reads neural signals and converts them into simple digital instructions.
The result allows users to move through apps and screens with nothing but their mind. Early tests have already shown promise. Some patients have used it to control an iPhone and even dive into virtual worlds with Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
Apple Integrates BCI into its Ecosystem With Switch Control
Apple is not just tinkering at the edges. The company is working to bake the Stentrode directly into its operating system. Through a feature called Switch Control, Synchron’s device would function just like a keyboard or mouse. It becomes an input method you cannot see or touch but can think into action. Early tester Mark Jackson, who lives with ALS, has been able to use his thoughts to operate devices and explore virtual environments.
Apple Tiptoes Toward a Mind-Blowing Tech Breakthrough
The technology is still in its infancy, but the long-term implications are staggering. Apple’s bold step into brain-computer interfaces could create life-changing tools for people with severe physical disabilities. It could also kick open the door to mainstream mind-controlled devices in the future.
Once the regulatory hurdles clear, the idea of controlling your iPhone with pure thought may not stay science fiction for long. Apple could find itself not just leading smartphones, but also becoming the bridge between brain and machine.
Is Apple a Buy, Sell, or Hold?
The future may be audacious but Wall Street is still measured. According to TipRanks, Apple holds a Moderate Buy rating based on the latest calls from 29 analysts. 17 have rated the stock a Buy, eight have issued a Hold, and four remain cautious with a Sell rating.
The average 12-month AAPL price target sits at $228.65, offering a 7.69 percent upside from the recent price of $212.33. Estimates vary widely, with the most bullish target at $300.00 and the lowest at $170.62. The numbers show that analysts are keeping one foot on the gas and the other hovering over the brake as Apple wades into uncharted BCI waters.
