California startup Cognixion just announced it's launching clinical trials to integrate its non-invasive brain-computer interface with the Apple Vision Pro, giving paralyzed patients with speech disorders a way to communicate through thought alone. The breakthrough could democratize BCI technology without requiring risky brain surgery, potentially reaching patients years ahead of invasive competitors like Neuralink.
The brain-computer interface race just took an unexpected turn. While Neuralink grabs headlines with surgical implants, Santa Barbara-based Cognixion is betting on a completely different approach - one that doesn't require cutting into anyone's skull.
The company announced today it's launching a clinical trial that pairs its wearable BCI technology with Apple's Vision Pro, targeting up to 10 participants with speech impairments from conditions like ALS, stroke, and spinal cord injuries. The timing couldn't be more strategic, coming just months after Apple opened its doors to assistive technology developers.
"In order to democratize access, you need to do it in such a way that's the least risky and the most acceptable for adoption for the majority of people," CEO Andreas Forsland told Wired. His personal motivation runs deep - the company emerged from his experience watching his intubated mother struggle to communicate in the ICU.
Cognixion's system works by swapping out Apple's standard headband for one embedded with six EEG sensors that monitor the brain's visual and parietal cortex. When users focus their mental attention on interface options, the system detects these "visual fixation signals" and translates them into commands. A separate neural computing pack processes the brain data outside the Vision Pro headset.
The company already proved the concept works. In earlier trials with its purpose-built Axon-R headset, ALS patients achieved communication speeds approaching normal conversation. One participant - a rabbi with ALS - demonstrated the technology by thoughtfully responding to questions about staying positive despite his diagnosis.
But the Vision Pro integration represents something bigger than just another medical device. "The Vision Pro gives you all of your apps, the app store, everything you want to do," Forsland explained. Instead of being limited to basic communication, users get access to Apple's entire ecosystem.
Apple laid the groundwork for this collaboration in May when it announced new accessibility protocols allowing users with severe mobility disabilities to control iPhones, iPads, and Vision Pro devices without physical movement. The move opened doors for multiple BCI companies - Synchron, which uses blood vessel implants, has also integrated with the Vision Pro platform.
