Apple is reportedly planning one of the most significant changes to CarPlay in years, with third-party AI chatbot apps set to gain official support within the in-car system. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, an upcoming iOS update will allow voice-enabled AI apps to run inside CarPlay, enabling drivers to interact with services like ChatGPT and Google Gemini safely while on the road.
The move would mark a notable shift in Apple’s long-standing approach to CarPlay, which has traditionally limited app access to a small number of carefully controlled categories such as navigation, communication and audio entertainment.
A major shift in Apple’s CarPlay strategy
Until now, Apple has only allowed its own Siri assistant to act as the primary voice interface within CarPlay. While AI chatbots already offer conversational voice modes on the iPhone, they do not integrate cleanly with CarPlay itself. Drivers have often had to rely on awkward workarounds, such as using speakerphone mode or triggering AI apps through a CarPlay widget which then triggers the App on the iPhone itself.
By opening CarPlay to voice-enabled chatbot apps, Apple appears to be acknowledging growing demand from users who want more capable, conversational AI tools while driving. Gurman reports that Apple is currently working behind the scenes to support these apps in CarPlay within the coming months, although the company has not publicly announced the change.
If implemented, AI providers such as OpenAI, Google and Anthropic could release CarPlay-compatible versions of their apps, allowing drivers to ask broader questions that go well beyond Siri’s traditional strengths.
How third-party AI will work in CarPlay
Despite the increased flexibility, Apple is not giving up full control. According to people familiar with the plans, users will not be able to replace Siri entirely within CarPlay. The Siri button and wake word will remain exclusive to Apple’s own assistant.
Instead, drivers will need to manually open a third-party AI app within CarPlay to activate its voice mode. Developers will be able to design their apps so that voice control launches automatically once the app is opened, making the experience more seamless and safer to use while driving.
In practical terms, this means a driver could open a ChatGPT app on CarPlay and then ask for restaurant recommendations, travel ideas or explanations without taking their hands off the wheel. While not as deeply integrated as Siri, it would still represent a big improvement over current options.
Why users have been asking for this feature
Siri remains widely used in CarPlay for tasks like sending messages, controlling music playback and handling navigation. However, many users have turned to AI chatbots for more complex requests, such as summarising information, answering general knowledge questions or providing contextual advice due to limitations or restrictions imposed via Siri.
These AI tools often offer more natural conversation and broader capabilities than Siri currently provides. The lack of proper CarPlay integration has been a long-standing frustration, especially as rival car infotainment systems and automakers begin rolling out their own AI-powered voice assistants.
Apple customers have reportedly been asking for this functionality for months, if not years. Allowing AI chatbots into CarPlay could help Apple stay competitive in an increasingly AI-driven automotive landscape.
How this fits with Apple Intelligence and Siri’s future
The CarPlay change is separate from Apple’s ongoing work to upgrade Siri through Apple Intelligence. Apple has already confirmed plans to enhance Siri using Google’s Gemini technology behind the scenes, with the first Gemini-powered Siri features expected to arrive in iOS 26.4.
Internally, Apple is said to be developing new Siri capabilities under a project known as World Knowledge Answers. This would give Siri more advanced web search abilities and allow it to summarise online information in a way that feels closer to modern AI chatbots.
Mark Gurman has also reported that Apple plans a broader overhaul of Siri during the iOS 27 development cycle, with genuine chatbot-style features expected to be announced later this year. In that context, opening CarPlay to third-party AI apps could be seen as a temporary bridge while Apple continues to improve its own assistant.
When could the update arrive?
At this stage, it is unclear exactly when Apple will roll out third-party AI support in CarPlay. The report does not confirm whether the feature will arrive as part of iOS 26, iOS 27, or a later point update.
Apple is expected to ship the first version of Gemini-enhanced Siri in iOS 26.4, while iOS 27 is likely to be previewed a few months later at Apple’s annual developer event in June. The CarPlay update could land anywhere within that timeline, depending on how ready Apple feels the feature is for public use.
As with many Apple projects, the company has declined to comment on the reports.
CarPlay’s recent evolution
Apple last delivered a major update to CarPlay with the release of iOS 26, which introduced widgets and the new Liquid Glass interface. These changes made CarPlay more customisable and visually modern, but they did not fundamentally alter how voice control works within the system.
Apple has also launched CarPlay Ultra, a more advanced version of the platform that allows deeper integration with vehicle systems such as climate controls and seat adjustments. However, CarPlay Ultra requires extensive customisation from automakers and is rolling out slowly. It is currently available in Aston Martin vehicles and is expected to appear in select Kia or Hyundai models later this year.
Given its limited availability, CarPlay Ultra is likely to remain a niche offering, making broader software updates to standard CarPlay even more important for most users.
What this means for drivers
If Apple follows through with these plans, CarPlay could soon become a far more powerful and flexible platform for drivers who rely on AI tools. While Siri will remain front and centre, the ability to safely access third-party AI chatbots could transform how people search for information, plan trips or make decisions while on the move.
For Apple, the move represents a careful balancing act. It allows more innovation within CarPlay without fully surrendering control of the user experience. For drivers, it could finally bring the best of modern AI into the car in a way that feels natural, safe and long overdue.
via: Bloomberg
This post was written by Rob Gordon, an IT geek, gadget lover and blogger. Rob has been using the internets since 1994 when the only streaming video was that coffee pot in Cambridge (rip)….
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