Apple just dropped some serious sci-fi energy with its latest announcement. The company revealed that it’s working on a BCI or a brain computer interface of their own, that could let users control their devices using brain signals. Yes, you read that right. One day, you might be able to scroll, tap, and swipe with just your thoughts.
But while that sounds futuristic, Apple’s biggest problem right now is stuck in the present. iPhone sales are flat, Wall Street is not happy, and all the brainwave magic in the world isn’t solving that core issue anytime soon.
Apple’s brain tech sounds insane, but it’s not for you just yet
This new project is focused on accessibility, helping people with conditions like ALS or spinal cord injuries control Apple devices without moving a muscle. Apple has teamed up with companies like Synchron to build the groundwork. These implants can read your brain signals and turn them into actions on an iPhone or iPad.
Apple says it wants to make brain signals a legit way to use tech, alongside touch, voice, and typing. Synchron’s CEO even called it a new era of human-tech interaction. But let’s be real. Only a tiny number of people have these implants right now, and there’s no sign this is going mainstream anytime soon.
iPhone’s declining sales is Apple’s real crisis
As cool as all this sounds, Apple still has one major problem. iPhone sales are just not growing. For nearly three years, the numbers have stayed flat, and Apple’s stock is feeling it. This year alone, it’s dropped 15 percent.
Apple tried to hype up new AI features under its “Apple Intelligence” banner, but even that rollout has been messy. Some key features were delayed. Others rely heavily on OpenAI’s tech, which doesn’t really scream Apple-level polish. Even Tim Cook admitted that AI helped boost iPhone sales in some regions, but it’s not been the game-changer investors were hoping for.
VR headsets, robot cars, brain chips…Apple needs a win
Apple has been trying to find its next big thing. The Vision Pro headset launched to mixed reviews and an eye-watering $3,500 price tag. The self-driving car project? That got scrapped last year. And while brain-controlled tech sounds exciting, it’s still years away from hitting stores.
At the end of the day, Apple’s future might be full of crazy ideas, but the pressure is real. It needs to sell more iPhones now, not just impress us with moonshot ideas for later.