Until now, the car was one of the few places where Apple kept the competition at bay in voice assistants. In CarPlay, Everything had to go through Siri., with a very controlled catalog of applications and few surprises beyond the usual ones for navigation, music or messaging.
With the beta of iOS 26.4 That scenario is starting to shift. Apple has added a new category of apps for CarPlay that allows... third-party AI chatbots participate in the experience of the car's system. Names like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Claude are the first candidates to be mentioned to take advantage of this opening.
What changes in CarPlay with iOS 26.4
Apple's updated developer documentation details that, starting with iOS 26.4, CarPlay supports “voice-based conversational applications”It's a new category within the car ecosystem, designed specifically for AI assistants that operate through conversation.
These apps don't integrate like a normal application; instead, they must use a voice control screen designed for CarPlayThis interface provides an indicator that the AI is listening and allows for a very limited visual response while maintaining the dialogue, avoiding filling the screen with text or elements that may be distracting.
In practice, the driver will be able to Launch an app like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude from the CarPlay interfaceYou can ask a question by voice and receive an audible answer, supported by a summary or minimal visual indication. All of this within a framework that Apple controls in considerable detail.
It's worth emphasizing that this new feature doesn't turn CarPlay into a limitless "AI hub." Apple requires that Chat applications strictly adhere to their visual templates and the logic of the driving environmentDevelopers are not allowed to create their own interface for the car or to overload the screen with information.
Siri remains in charge: clear limits for chatbots
One of the points on which Apple has been particularly clear is the division of responsibilities. Even with new players coming in, Siri remains the default assistant in CarPlay and the only one with access to the car's and iPhone's sensitive functions.
That means AI chatbots They will not be able to control the vehicle or the system settingsThey will not have permission to raise or lower the volume, change the temperature, modify the radio, manage iPhone notifications, or access other connected devices. These actions remain reserved for Siri, the assistant integrated with the car's physical controls and vehicle systems.
Nor will there be, at least for now, own activation words like “Oye ChatGPT” or “Ok Gemini” within CarPlay. To use these applications, the user will have to open them from the dashboard screen, with a touch or using the steering wheel controls, and from there start the conversation.
In other words, the role of chatbots is limited to conversational communication: answer questions, generate text, summarize content, or maintain a supportive dialogue During the journey, Siri retains control over commands that involve changes to the driving environment or the phone.
This approach fits with Apple's historical philosophy in the car: some flexibility is allowed, but Road safety and the reduction of distractions mark the red lineThird-party AI is a plus, but it doesn't replace the home assistant when it comes to critical functions.
What will it be like to use ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude in the car?
If everything progresses as planned in the beta, the daily use of these chatbots in CarPlay will be more like having a conversational copilot than a full control assistant. The flow would be something like this: the compatible app is opened from the car's screen, the system activates the new voice control view, and listening begins.
From there, the driver can ask brief questions or request help with light tasks: ask for a quick explanation of a term you just heard on the radio, dictate an idea to remember later, request a summary of a text that has been sent to you, or generate a response with a more formal tone for an important message.
The response comes via audio, supported by a very restrained visual presentation On the screen: an indication that AI is processing, a line of text, perhaps simple options. Apple's guidelines make it clear that long blocks of text or complex visuals that force the driver to read for too long cannot be displayed.
The company also points out that, although the conversation may be relatively in-depth, Chatbots should not be used for sensitive topics such as medical diagnoses, financial advice, tax planning, or home security decisions. It's the same type of warning you see on your mobile phone, but even more relevant inside your car.
As it's a native CarPlay integration, there's no need to resort to strange shortcuts with the iPhone or have the phone in your hand. The idea is that everything happens hands-free.or at most with minimal interaction with the screen, something especially relevant in Europe and Spain, where traffic regulations are strict regarding the use of phones while driving.
Why is Apple opening CarPlay to third-party AI now?
The move comes at a time when competition in AI assistants has skyrocketed. They have been available on the iPhone for some time now. applications like ChatGPT or Gemini installed independentlyAnd users had become accustomed to switching between Siri and other chatbots depending on the task.
Completely blocking those types of in-car services was starting to sound artificial, especially when many drivers, in practice, They were trying to continue using them from their mobile phones....with the risks and penalties that this entails. Allowing an official channel in CarPlay offers a safer and more controlled alternative.
There is also a regulatory context, especially in the European Union, where Authorities are pressuring major platforms to offer more options and fewer blocks.Opening up space for third-party chatbots in CarPlay allows Apple to show some flexibility without abandoning its strict oversight model.
In parallel, the company's own strategy involves strengthening the presence of AI throughout its ecosystem. Siri already relies on more advanced models for some functions, and announcements have been made plans for future systems to combine Siri with engines like Gemini in certain regions and tasks, although that timeline is still subject to leaks and rumors.
In this context, CarPlay ceases to be a closed exception and aligns with what happens on the phone and tablet: Several attendees can coexist, each with their own rolewhile Apple sets the boundaries of what can be done and how it is presented to the user.
What are the implications for Europe and Spain?
In the European market, and particularly in Spain, the arrival of these chatbots to CarPlay intersects with two key elements: very strict traffic laws regarding distractions and a digital regulatory framework that closely monitors the power of Big Tech.
Regarding road safety, the Directorate General of Traffic periodically reminds drivers that Using a mobile phone while driving is one of the main causes of distraction...with fines and points deducted from your license. Integrating these functions directly into the car's screen, with hands-free calling and an interface designed for that environment, aligns better with regulators' recommendations than driving while talking on the phone.
From a digital regulation perspective, opening up CarPlay to third-party AI apps can be interpreted as a gesture from Apple towards the demands of competition and interoperability as mandated by Brussels. Allowing other assistants to coexist with Siri, even with limitations, reduces the risk of CarPlay being interpreted as a completely closed environment.
It is expected that, as the feature moves out of beta and into the stable version, European bodies should closely monitor how this is applied in practice.: what permissions are granted, what data is shared between the car, the iPhone and the chatbot servers, and to what extent the user can choose which assistant to interact with in each context.
For Spanish users with CarPlay-compatible vehicles, the change will be especially noticeable on long journeys or when using the car professionally, where an assistant capable of writing texts, summarizing documents, or rephrasing messages It can fit better than the current Siri without needing to take your phone out of your pocket.
Availability, betas, and next steps
CarPlay's compatibility with third-party chatbots is part of the iOS 26.4 betaThe update, which has already been released to developers and has begun rolling out as a public beta, is expected to reach users in the coming weeks, barring any unforeseen issues.
The simple installation of iOS 26.4, however, It won't be enough to start talking to AI from the carThe ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and other apps themselves will need to be updated to declare compatibility with CarPlay, request the necessary permissions from Apple, and adapt to the new voice control interface.
Apple has defined a series of technical and user experience requirements that companies will have to meet, including tests designed to minimize distraction This ensures that the app responds appropriately to the driver's voice commands. Only then will they appear available on the dashboard screen.
Meanwhile, the big question about the Siri's evolution with more advanced AI modelsSome sources pointed to significant improvements in this same version of iOS, but for now the big new feature visible in the car is the introduction of third-party chatbots, while Siri, powered by models like Gemini, is apparently reserved for future updates.
With all this movement, CarPlay is going from being an almost monolithic environment, dominated by Siri and a few very controlled categories of apps, to a scenario in which AI conversation enters the dashboardEven if it's with gloves and under close supervision. European drivers will find themselves with a car that's somewhat "smarter" in terms of ideas and words, but with the steering wheel, quite literally, still in the hands of Apple and traffic laws.
