Apple Adds Third-Party AI Chatbots to CarPlay

Apple announced support for third-party AI chatbots in its CarPlay system through the upcoming iOS 26.4 update, allowing drivers to access voice-based interactions with services like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, and Anthropic's Claude while on the road. The feature, detailed in Apple's updated CarPlay Developer Guide, is currently available in the iOS 26.4 developer beta and is slated for a public release this spring.

This integration marks a notable expansion of CarPlay's capabilities, which has historically restricted app types to prioritize driver safety and minimize distractions. Previously, users could only rely on Apple's built-in Siri assistant for voice commands during drives. The new update introduces a dedicated category for voice-based conversational apps, enabling developers to build or adapt their AI tools for in-vehicle use. According to the developer guide, these apps must focus primarily on voice interactions, responding to questions or requests without displaying excessive text or imagery that could divert attention from the road.

To enable the feature, companies such as OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic will need to update their iOS apps with a specific...