Apple might soon let you use ChatGPT directly in your car. According to Bloomberg sources this week, the company is working to add third-party AI apps to CarPlay, the system that mirrors your iPhone on your car’s display.
You can use apps like Google Maps and Apple Music through CarPlay right now. You can also talk to Siri. But this would be the first time you could access other AI assistants like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Claude without complicated setup steps.
Here’s what this means for you: If you prefer ChatGPT over Siri, you could ask it for restaurant suggestions when you’re driving through a new city.
You could get hotel recommendations. All of this would happen right on your CarPlay screen without switching apps or picking up your phone.
Apple hasn’t officially confirmed this yet. But if it happens, CarPlay users will have more choices for their AI assistant.
The new feature will have some limits if it actually launches. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg says you still won’t be able to replace the Siri button in CarPlay.
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You also can’t change the wake word that turns on the assistant. If you want to use ChatGPT or another AI app, you’ll need to open it manually each time to turn on voice control.
CarPlay might get other upgrades soon, too. Bloomberg reports that CarPlay Ultra is already in some Aston Martin cars. This version lets you control physical parts of your vehicle through the screen, such as adjusting your climate settings. At least one Kia or Hyundai model should get this feature in 2026.
So while you’ll have more AI options, you won’t get the same hands-free convenience that Siri has right now. You’ll still need to tap your screen to get started with other assistants.
Bloomberg also reported this week that Tesla might finally add CarPlay to its cars. Tesla is one of the biggest car companies that still doesn’t support it.
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But not everyone wants CarPlay in their vehicles. Some automakers are thinking about ditching it completely. In 2024, Rivian’s CEO said he wants to build all the software in-house instead of using Apple’s system. General Motors has a different concern. One of their senior product leaders said CarPlay can distract drivers.
So the car industry is split right now. Tesla might be moving toward CarPlay while other companies are backing away from it. Each automaker has different reasons for their choice, whether it’s about keeping control of their software or worrying about driver safety.
