Apple CarPlay is adding support for ChatGPT and other AI chatbots

Source: Mashable Tech

Apple will soon let drivers converse with AI chatbots while on the road. The company’s CarPlay Developer Guide (via MacRumors) now includes voice‑based chat apps supported by CarPlay, expected to arrive with iOS 26.4 this spring. This should enable third‑party AI apps like ChatGPT and Gemini to answer spoken questions while driving—something previously limited to Siri.

Caveats

• App updates required – Developers of ChatGPT, Gemini, and similar services must update their apps to be CarPlay‑compatible.
• Manual launch – Wake‑up words won’t activate the chat apps; users must open the app manually before speaking.
• Limited control – The chat apps can answer questions but cannot issue commands to the car or iPhone (e.g., you can ask ChatGPT a question, but you can’t ask it to adjust climate settings).

Other iOS 26.4 Features

• AI‑generated Apple Music playlists.
• Expanded video playback options for Podcasts.
• End‑to‑end encryption for RCS messages.

A beta of iOS 26.4 is currently available, with the full release slated for the spring.

Disclosure

Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging that OpenAI infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.