Apple is preparing to open its CarPlay vehicle interface to third-party, voice-controlled artificial intelligence applications in the coming months, according to people familiar with the matter. The planned change would allow drivers to interact with external AI chatbots through voice commands while using CarPlay.
The shift would let users access services such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude and Google's Gemini using hands-free voice prompts inside the vehicle. For example, a driver could request restaurant recommendations from a chatbot while keeping their hands on the wheel. If implemented as described, this would be the first occasion Apple has allowed voice assistants other than its own Siri to operate within CarPlay.
Until now, Apple has confined voice control within its vehicle infotainment platform exclusively to Siri. The company has reportedly received requests from customers seeking the ability to use alternative voice assistants through CarPlay for some months, and the planned update is presented as a response to that demand.
Beyond the named chatbot examples, the announcement provides limited detail about how Apple will integrate third-party voice AIs into the CarPlay ecosystem, which apps will qualify, or the exact timeline for rollout. The description from people familiar with the matter indicates the change is expected in the coming months, but does not provide a firm schedule or technical specifics.
The coming modification could affect several sectors, including automotive infotainment, consumer technology, and developers of conversational AI services. It represents a notable change in Apple's longstanding approach to voice control within its in-vehicle software environment, but many implementation details remain to be disclosed.
Key points
- Apple plans to allow third-party voice-controlled AI apps to run on CarPlay, enabling hands-free access to chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini - sectors affected include consumer technology, automotive infotainment and AI services.
- This would be the first time third-party voice assistants are permitted within CarPlay, where voice control has previously been restricted to Siri - a change in platform policy that may alter developer opportunities and competitive dynamics in software for vehicles.
- The decision follows reported customer requests for expanded voice assistant options in CarPlay over recent months, indicating consumer demand for more flexible in-vehicle voice capabilities.
Risks and uncertainties
- Timing and execution remain uncertain - the reports indicate the change is expected in the coming months, but no precise schedule or deployment plan is provided, creating uncertainty for developers and automakers.
- Implementation details are limited - it is not yet clear how Apple will manage integration, app qualification, user privacy settings or interoperability within CarPlay, leaving open questions for affected technology and automotive firms.
- Scope of support is unspecified - while a few AI chatbots are cited as examples, the full range of third-party services that will be allowed is not detailed, which could affect market participants differently depending on inclusion criteria.
Bottom line
Apple's reported plan to permit third-party, voice-driven AI apps in CarPlay represents a significant shift in the company's in-vehicle software policy and could broaden hands-free access to conversational AI services for drivers. However, the absence of detailed implementation and timing information leaves a number of practical questions unresolved for developers, automakers and service providers.