Key Points:
- Apple plans to let third-party AI voice apps operate within CarPlay.
- This move ends Siri’s long-standing exclusivity in the vehicle interface.
- Drivers will be able to use chatbots from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic.
- The new support features are expected to launch within the next month.
Apple is finally loosening its grip on the car dashboard. According to a report from Bloomberg on Friday, the tech giant is getting ready to let other voice-controlled artificial intelligence apps onto its CarPlay platform. This marks a significant shift in strategy for the company, which has historically kept its vehicle interface exclusive to its own assistant, Siri.
For the first time, drivers will be able to have conversations with AI chatbots from other companies while behind the wheel. Sources familiar with the matter say this opens the door for major players like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google to release CarPlay-specific versions of their apps. This means you could soon ask ChatGPT or Gemini questions through your car’s speakers just as easily as you use Siri today.
However, Apple is not giving up total control. The report clarifies that there are strict limitations on how these new apps will work. You will not be able to replace Siri as the default assistant. The button on your steering wheel and the “Hey Siri” wake command will still only summon Apple’s own software.
To use a rival AI, a driver will need to manually tap the app icon on the CarPlay screen. To make this safer and less distracting while driving, Apple is helping developers design their apps to start listening immediately. Once you open the app, it will automatically launch into voice mode so you can start speaking right away without fumbling with menus.
This update is reportedly moving fast. Apple is working to support these changes within the coming month. While Apple declined to comment on the specifics, the move acknowledges that users want access to the smarter, more capable generative AI tools that have exploded in popularity over the last few years.
