Apple Vision Pro is emerging as a platform for more than entertainment and productivity. California-based startup Cognixion has announced a new clinical trial that integrates its non-invasive brain-computer interface technology with Vision Pro, aiming to help people with paralysis and speech disorders communicate without the need for surgery.
The study equips Apple Vision Pro with Cognixion’s custom headband containing EEG sensors that detect brain activity from the visual and parietal cortex. Paired with Vision Pro’s accessibility features, including gaze tracking and dwell control, the system enables patients with ALS, spinal cord injuries, strokes, or traumatic brain injuries to interact using brain signals, eye gaze, or head pose alone.
Unlike invasive devices such as Neuralink’s implants, Cognixion’s approach is fully wearable and builds on its prior work with the Axon-R headset. That device demonstrated how AI could learn an individual’s speaking style and help deliver communication at near-normal speeds. By combining this with Vision Pro’s intuitive interface and access to apps and services, the trial hopes to expand communication into everyday life, including education, work, and entertainment.
“This study is about understanding the patient experience-what happens when advanced accessibility features meet new neural input methods,” said Chris Ullrich, Chief Technology Officer at Cognixion and principal investigator for the clinical trial. “We are committed to working closely with each participant, learning from their lived experiences, and translating that into meaningful, delightful solutions. Apple Vision Pro offers an intuitive user interface, and our goal is to leverage Cognixion’s brain-sensing and AI technologies to better support millions of people affected by speech and mobility challenges.”
The clinical trial is already open for enrollment in the United States and will run through April 2026. Cognixion plans to follow with a larger pivotal trial before seeking FDA clearance. If successful, this could mark one of the first large-scale demonstrations of non-invasive brain-computer interface technology paired with Apple Vision Pro, creating new opportunities for independence and communication for millions of people worldwide.
