Apple may soon make it much easier to use OpenAI’s ChatGPT in your car. Anonymous sources told Bloomberg earlier this week that Apple is working on integrating third-party AI apps into its CarPlay interface, which allows users to project a stripped-down version of their iPhone interface on the vehicle display.
Drivers were already able to interact with apps like Google Maps, Apple Music, and Apple’s own AI voice assistant, Siri, but this could be the first time third-party apps like Google Gemini or ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude could be made accessible without tricky workarounds. This means that users who aren’t sold on Siri could use apps like ChatGPT for tasks like restaurant or hotel recommendations in whatever new town or city they are driving through, all without leaving the CarPlay interface itself. Apple has not yet confirmed the move.
But the new integration is still set to come with a few limitations, if and when it does arrive. According to Bloomberg’s Apple specialist Mark Gurman, Apple still won’t let users replace the Siri button on CarPlay or the “wake word” that activates the tool. Users who want to use other AI will need to open the apps individually to activate voice control, according to the sources.
A smooth ChatGPT integration might not be the only new feature coming to CarPlay in the near future. Bloomberg reports that CarPlay Ultra—which allows drivers to use the interface to manipulate physical aspects of their vehicle like climate settings—is available in some Aston Martin vehicles and is slated to appear in “at least one model” from Kia or Hyundai in 2026.
Recommended by Our Editors
Bloomberg also reported earlier this week that Tesla, one of the largest automakers yet to support CarPlay, is working on developing support for Apple’s CarPlay system in its vehicles. But other automakers have publicly toyed with the idea of staying away from CarPlay long-term. In 2024, Rivian’s CEO said he wants his firm to keep its software interface design in-house, while a senior head of product at General Motors has said that Apple’s CarPlay can be distracting for drivers.
Get Our Best Stories!
Your Daily Dose of Our Top Tech News
By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy
Policy.
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
About Our Expert
Experience
I’m a reporter covering weekend news. Before joining PCMag in 2024, I picked up bylines in BBC News, The Guardian, The Times of London, The Daily Beast, Vice, Slate, Fast Company, The Evening Standard, The i, TechRadar, and Decrypt Media.
I’ve been a PC gamer since you had to install games from multiple CD-ROMs by hand. As a reporter, I’m passionate about the intersection of tech and human lives. I’ve covered everything from crypto scandals to the art world, as well as conspiracy theories, UK politics, and Russia and foreign affairs.
Read Full Bio
