Apple Purchases Neural Signal Sensor Company Sonera

Apple, the renowned technology giant, recently announced the acquisition of Sonera, a sensor technology company specializing in non-invasive sensors for measuring brain neural signals. The acquisition took place in May, as reported by Apple Insider on September 8, citing a notice on the European Commission website.

Sonera's technology offers several health benefits, including muscle monitoring and the potential for active thought control of devices. In fact, it's already been demonstrated that Apple's Vision Pro could be controlled using thought, although this required an implant in the user's head. With this acquisition, Apple now possesses the tools to detect magnetic muscle activity, which could enhance the company's existing capabilities.

Sonera co-founder Nishita Deka expressed their motivation behind creating affordable and portable brain imaging methods in 2020. She stated, "We are trying to detect brain activity using cheaper, faster methods that are still high-performance. That’s our north star." In 2023, the company set its sights even higher, aiming to make "brain activity as easy to measure as heart rate, temperature, and other physiological signals," potentially leading to an entirely new class of consumer wearables.

One key advantage of Sonera's magnetic sensors is their superior performance compared to electrical sensors. Electrical signals can be weakened by the skull, but magnetic sensors are thought to overcome this obstacle. This could enable thought control without the need for implants, offering a more accessible and user-friendly experience.

This news arrives just a day before John Ternus, Apple's new CEO, is scheduled to begin a year-long product launch campaign, marking the longest period of device releases in the company's history.