According to a report from Bloomberg published , Apple is preparing to allow third-party AI voice assistants to enter CarPlay. The company reportedly plans to open CarPlay to external, voice-controlled AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini in the coming months.
For Now, Apple CarPlay Supports Only Siri
Until now, Apple has kept CarPlay’s voice assistant functionality strictly limited to Siri. For years, Siri has been the only option for hands-free navigation, messaging, and basic vehicle-related commands within CarPlay.
For third-party AI assistants like ChatGPT, the experience has been fragmented. Users previously had to activate the app on their iPhone first and then rely on basic Bluetooth audio to continue the conversation in the car. This setup lacked true hands-free AI integration and often fell short in real driving scenarios where safety and convenience are critical.
Apple Plans to Open CarPlay to External AI Voice Assistants
Sources familiar with Apple’s plans say the company intends to allow external, voice-controlled AI chatbot apps to run inside CarPlay. These assistants would be capable of handling spoken queries, conversations, and contextual requests while driving—similar to how Siri functions today, but powered by more advanced large language models.
This would represent a major departure from Apple’s long-standing policy of restricting CarPlay voice control exclusively to Siri.
But Siri Will Remain the Default Assistant, despite the increased openness, Apple is not planning to replace Siri as the system-level assistant.
In other words, drivers will be able to use ChatGPT or Gemini in CarPlay, but they won’t be able to fully replace Siri at the system level—at least not yet.
Enhance Your Car Experience with Zeera SuVolt Gen5 Qi2
While you enjoy hands-free AI in CarPlay, keeping your iPhone powered is essential. The Zeera SuVolt Gen5 Qi2 Car Charger makes it easy, delivering 15W fast MagSafe charging with active cooling to prevent overheating—perfect for long drives and heavy CarPlay use
iOS 26.4 Lays the Foundation for a Smarter, More Open CarPlay
With iOS 26.4, Apple is upgrading Siri through Apple Intelligence, making it more context-aware and personalized. This smarter Siri will serve as the bridge for future CarPlay improvements, helping the system gradually support third-party AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude.
While third-party assistants won’t replace Siri or access CarPlay Ultra’s deep system controls yet, the upgraded Siri provides a foundation for more seamless AI interactions in the car.
Release Timeline and Official Status
Apple has not officially announced this update or confirmed a specific release version.
However, multiple authoritative reports citing people familiar with the matter indicate that support for third-party AI assistants in CarPlay could arrive in the coming months, likely as part of a future iOS and CarPlay software update.
Final Thoughts
Apple CarPlay is on the verge of a major shift. While it remains Siri-only for now, iOS 26.4’s smarter, Apple Intelligence–powered Siri lays the foundation for future hands-free AI interactions. Third-party assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude will eventually run in CarPlay, though they remain sandboxed and cannot access CarPlay Ultra’s deep system controls yet.
This careful balance lets Apple expand generative AI in cars while keeping safety, privacy, and system consistency intact. The combination of a stronger Siri and eventual third-party AI support hints at a more open and intelligent CarPlay experience in the near future.
