Startup aims to pair brain implant with Apple Vision Pro
Precision Neuroscience, a brain-computer interface startup, is working to integrate its thin brain implant with Apple's Vision Pro headset. The technology could allow users to control devices through thoughts alone. Founded by a Neuralink co-founder, the company has already implanted its device in seven patients.
Precision Neuroscience wants to embed its advanced brain-computer interface into Apple's Vision Pro mixed-reality headset, potentially revolutionizing how users interact with technology. The startup's Layer 7 cortical interface is a flexible, 1 millimeter-thick implant equipped with 1,024 electrodes that rests directly on the brain's surface without penetrating it. This design aims to capture neural signals for precise control of digital devices.
The company was co-founded by Ben Rapoport, who previously helped start Neuralink before leaving in 2016 due to differing visions on implant invasiveness. Precision Neuroscience has raised $41 million in a Series B funding round in July 2023, led by Steadview Capital, to advance its work. So far, the implant has been surgically placed in seven patients, primarily to treat neurological conditions like paralysis, with plans for more trials.
Apple's Vision Pro, released in February 2024, currently relies on eye-tracking and hand gestures for navigation in its spatial computing environment. By integrating Precision's BCI, users—especially those with mobility impairments—could potentially select apps, scroll through content, or type using brain signals alone. "We want to enable people to control computers with their thoughts," Rapoport told Wired, emphasizing the goal of seamless, non-invasive thought-based computing.
The startup is also developing a wireless version of the implant to eliminate the need for percutaneous connectors, which currently require a small skull port for data transmission. This could make the technology more practical for everyday use with devices like the Vision Pro. While human trials are underway under FDA approval for therapeutic purposes, consumer applications remain in early exploration. Precision's approach contrasts with more invasive BCIs, focusing on safety and scalability for broader adoption in assistive tech and beyond.