Apple prepares to let ChatGPT and Google Gemini into CarPlay as AI approach shifts

Apple is set to open up CarPlay to third-party artificial intelligence assistants - including ChatGPT and Google Gemini - in a move that underlines the company’s changing strategy in AI and could reshape how drivers use voice tools in the car.

According to sources, support for external chatbots could arrive in CarPlay within the next few months, with the most significant changes expected to come through upcoming versions of iOS. Apple has already acknowledged it has fallen behind in the AI race, and a recent partnership with Google has been widely seen as a clear signal of a new direction.

Siri will remain the default assistant in the car

Despite the planned expansion, Apple is not removing Siri from CarPlay. The voice assistant will continue to be available and will remain the default option.

Third-party AI systems will not be able to automatically replace Siri. Instead, they are expected to operate as separate apps - meaning drivers who want to use ChatGPT or Gemini in place of Siri will need to open them manually.

Apple’s own AI-powered Siri is still on the horizon

Apple is still planning to launch a more AI-capable version of Siri, but the timing remains unclear. The longer that upgrade takes, the greater the risk that users become accustomed to alternative assistants and stop viewing Siri as a fully fledged option.

For Apple, allowing outside assistants into CarPlay could buy time while it continues work on its own technology.

WWDC and the next iOS release likely to set the timetable

More details are expected at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which is traditionally held in the spring. The final release of the next iOS version is most likely to land in the autumn - the point at which CarPlay could receive fuller third-party AI support.

AI in the car is becoming unavoidable

ChatGPT and Google Gemini are already available on the iPhone, and Siri is expected to become “smarter” in future by drawing on Google’s models. The direction of travel suggests that even drivers wary of AI’s expanding footprint will find intelligent assistants increasingly embedded in everyday driving.

A bet on the ecosystem - with Apple still holding the reins

The shift signals a greater emphasis on Apple’s ecosystem rather than relying solely on in-house AI breakthroughs. Opening CarPlay to third-party assistants represents a step forward for flexibility, but keeping Siri as the default highlights Apple’s ongoing reluctance to hand over full control of the user experience.