For a long time,apple（Apple)for CarPlay The ecological control of in-vehicle systems is extremely strict. Only specific categories of applications such as navigation, music streaming, and communication software are allowed to be put on the shelves. Third-party AI voice assistants are not yet open to the public. However, as the wave of generative AI sweeps the world, this wall may be about to come down. According to the latest foreign media reports, Apple is planning to officially allow third-party AI chatbots (Chatbots) to enter CarPlay in the next few months, which means that drivers will be able to communicate with CarPlay directly in the car. ChatGPT、Claude or Google Gemini Have a conversation.
Apple CarPlay is about to usher in major changes! ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini are coming soon
according toBloombergNews that the update is expected to be rolled out “in the coming months.” This decision marks the first time Apple has opened up external voice control functions on the CarPlay platform, breaking the past situation where Siri was the only one. This is undoubtedly a great boon for users who are accustomed to using ChatGPT to query data or rely on Claude for logical analysis. In the past, if you wanted to use these AI services while driving, you often had to risk picking up your phone to operate them. In the future, these services will be displayed natively on the car screen.
Usage and restrictions: Siri is still the “main palace”
Although Apple has opened up the entry of third-party AI, in order to ensure driving safety and the core position of Siri, Apple still sets many restrictions:
- Cannot replace Siri wake-up mechanism: Users cannot replace the voice buttons or “Hey Siri” wake words on the steering wheel with ChatGPT or Gemini. Siri remains CarPlay’s default voice assistant.
- Need to manually open the App: The driver must manually click on the AI application icon on the CarPlay interface to start using it.
- Automatic voice mode: In order to reduce driving distraction, developers can set the application to “enter voice mode upon opening”. This means that when you click on ChatGPT, it will start listening to your commands directly without you having to press the microphone button.
- Permission separation: These third-party AI cannot control vehicle hardware (such as air conditioning, windows) or core functions of the phone (such as making calls). These permissions are still firmly in the hands of Siri.
Apple’s move is not simply open, but part of its massive AI strategy. In fact, Apple announced an agreement with Google as early as January 2026 to integrate the Gemini model into its own Siri. It is expected that in iOS 26.4 (expected to be released from March to April 2026), Siri will gain personalization capabilities driven by large language models (LLM), able to handle more complex conversations and tasks.
In other words, Apple has adopted a “dual-track parallel” strategy: on the one hand, it strengthens the native Siri experience through in-depth cooperation with Google; on the other hand, it opens up the CarPlay platform so that competitors such as OpenAI (ChatGPT) and Anthropic (Claude) can also serve users in a controlled environment. This approach can not only meet the needs of heavy AI users, but also avoid being challenged by antitrust regulations such as the EU’s Digital Market Act (DMA) due to a closed ecosystem.
Conclusion
As in-vehicle systems gradually become people’s “second living room,” the battlefield for AI voice assistants has also extended from mobile phones to the driver’s seat. For drivers, having options other than Siri is definitely a good thing. Perhaps in the near future, we will no longer just listen to music or navigate while driving, but can use our commuting time to complete work ideas or learn knowledge through conversations with Claude or ChatGPT. This feature will be available within a few months at the earliest. At that time, the speed of integration between major car manufacturers and AI developers will determine who can seize the driver’s prime time first.
Source: KOCPC Chinese