Apple CarPlay is set to get a brand new AI feature in a future update
Published on Feb 11, 2026 at 5:58 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Feb 11, 2026 at 1:47 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
An all-new Apple CarPlay feature has been reported, with a future update set to give the software new AI capabilities.
Bloomberg has reported that outside voice-controlled AI Chatbots will be allowed to integrate into CarPlay, offering alternatives to features like Siri.
The news outlet cited various sources saying that new AI, such as ChatGPT, will be able to be integrated into Apple software.
It is a massive strategic shift for Apple, which, up until now, has only allowed its in-house Siri voice assistant to be used on the CarPlay system.
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What we know about the new Apple CarPlay feature
Bloomberg said that people familiar with the matter have confirmed Apple is making this move.
AI Chatbots like ChatGPT or Google Gemini will be able to be used by drivers and passengers.
CarPlay versions of these apps will be released, and they will include a voice-control mode.
So if you are driving home and want to go out for dinner, you can ask ChatGPT for a recommendation.
This does, of course, depend upon the developers taking advantage of this new possibility.
Apple itself has yet to confirm if this is actually the case.
But enough information appears to have leaked out to make it all but confirmed.
There will, however, be some limits on the capabilities of the software.
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How Apple may limit third-party Chatbot apps
Reports suggest the tech company won’t let users replace the Siri button on CarPlay.
Nor will the wake word that activates and summons Siri be replaceable.
Drivers or passengers will have to open the app on the infotainment system to activate it.
But developers will be able to design apps allowing for voice mode to launch automatically when it is opened.
That will help make them more user-friendly for those in the cars.
While Siri is used regularly in cars, other services like Gemini can go beyond Siri’s capabilities.
Before this, users would have to use the apps via an iPhone and carry the conversation on through the car’s speakerphone.
However, this is a very clunky experience for many users.
Apple opening CarPlay up to other AI Chatbots will make it a far more intuitive experience.
Apple CarPlay history
2013: Apple unveils ‘iOS in the Car’ at WWDC, a precursor to the official system
2014: CarPlay officially launches at the Geneva Motor Show; the Ferrari FF becomes the first supported vehicle later that year
2015: Wireless CarPlay support is introduced with iOS 9, removing the need for a USB cable
2018: iOS 12 opens the platform to third-party navigation apps, finally allowing Google Maps and Waze
2019: A major redesign arrives with iOS 13, introducing the ‘Dashboard’ split-screen view for multitasking
2022: Apple announces the ‘next generation’ of CarPlay, featuring deep integration with instrument clusters and climate controls
2023: The first vehicles supporting next-gen CarPlay (from Porsche and Aston Martin) are officially previewed
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Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a leading heritage steam railway in England.
