Apple is reportedly preparing a notable shift in how CarPlay handles voice assistants. According to Bloomberg, the company is working on support for third party AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini inside CarPlay, giving drivers more choice beyond Siri for the first time.
If the plan moves forward, CarPlay users will be able to interact with these AI chatbots directly from their car’s dashboard using voice. The idea is simple but significant. Instead of reaching for an iPhone to ask ChatGPT a question, drivers could open the app within CarPlay and speak naturally while keeping their hands on the wheel.
This would mark a meaningful expansion of what CarPlay allows. Until now, Siri has been the only voice assistant deeply integrated into the platform, handling navigation, messages, calls, and music. Third party AI apps existed on the iPhone, but CarPlay itself remained tightly controlled, limiting what developers could do in the car environment.
Reports suggest Apple plans to keep those guardrails firmly in place. Siri will remain the default assistant in CarPlay, and users will not be able to replace the Siri button or wake word with ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini. To use these AI chatbots, drivers will need to manually open the relevant app in CarPlay before speaking. There will be no always listening trigger phrase for third party assistants.
Developers will still have some flexibility. Apple is expected to allow AI apps to launch directly into a voice based chat mode when opened in CarPlay. That small detail matters, because it reduces friction and makes the experience feel closer to a native assistant, even if Siri stays front and center.
Apple has not officially confirmed the feature, but Bloomberg says the update could arrive within the coming months. That timing lines up with Apple’s broader push to improve Siri, which has faced growing criticism for lagging behind competitors in conversational ability and general knowledge.
The context here is important. Apple recently announced that Google Gemini will help power parts of a future Siri update, and the company has also been working on new features like World Knowledge Answers, which add web search and summarization. Allowing Apple CarPlay ChatGPT support alongside Claude and Gemini suggests Apple is acknowledging a clear user demand for more capable AI, especially in situations like driving where voice interaction matters most.
For drivers, the appeal is obvious. AI chatbots are often better at handling open ended questions, recommendations, and contextual queries than Siri. Asking for restaurant ideas, travel tips, or quick explanations while stuck in traffic becomes easier when those tools are built directly into the dashboard experience.
At the same time, Apple appears careful not to give up control. Third party AI assistants will operate in a sandbox and will not be able to control vehicle functions, adjust settings, or take over navigation. Those tasks will remain under Siri’s domain, reinforcing Apple’s role as the gatekeeper of the in car experience.
CarPlay’s scale makes this move especially notable. The platform is available in hundreds of car models worldwide and is used daily by millions of drivers. Opening it up to ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini is less about generosity and more about relevance. As automakers and tech companies race to embed AI deeper into vehicles, Apple needs CarPlay to feel modern rather than restrictive.
If and when the update arrives, it will likely feel like a compromise rather than a revolution. Siri keeps its crown, but smarter AI options finally get a seat in the car. For many users, that balance may be exactly what they have been waiting for.
(via Bloomberg)
