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Apple May Be Adding Support for Conversational AI in CarPlay

Hidden in the latest developer guide for iOS 26.4 is support for "voice-based conversational apps" in CarPlay.

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Headshot of Tyler Lacoma
Tyler Lacoma Editor / Home Security and Smart Home
Tyler has worked on, lived with and tested all types of smart home and security technology for over a dozen years, explaining the latest features, privacy tricks, and top recommendations. With degrees in Business Management, Literature and Technical Writing, Tyler takes every opportunity to play with the latest AI technology, push smart devices to their limits and occasionally throw cameras off his roof, all to find the best devices to trust in your life. He always checks with the renters (and pets) in his life to see what smart products can work for everyone, in every living situation. Living in beautiful Bend, Oregon gives Tyler plenty of opportunities to test the latest tech in every kind of weather and temperature. But when not at work, he can be found hiking the trails, trying out a new food recipe for his loved ones, keeping up on his favorite reading, or gaming with good friends.
Expertise Smart home | Smart security | Home tech | Energy savings | A/V
Tyler Lacoma
2 min read
Someone driving an Aston Martin using CarPlay Ultra

Apple's new CarPlay support shows conversational AI could be around the corner.

 Aston Martin

If you've ever dreamed of talking with your car, Apple may have good news for you. Within the latest CarPlay developer guide is support for "voice-based conversational apps," a sign that Apple could be about to open the doors to AI chatbot apps like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude right on your dashboard.

The guidelines indicate that AI companies like Google or OpenAI will need to create an interface that shows the conversational AI is listening in CarPlay, and then "appropriately respond to questions or requests and perform actions."

AI Atlas

Support is expected to arrive in March with the release of iOS 26.4, which is currently in beta. Companies that want to participate will have to jump through all the usual Apple hoops to qualify for CarPlay.

An Apple representative didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

How will talking to AI while driving work?

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Conversational AI will have limitations in CarPlay.

 Apple/Screenshot by Joe Maldonado/CNET

Apple has limited what apps work with CarPlay, partially to help keep drivers focused and undistracted. Siri commands were enabled under certain circumstances, but that was all.

With iOS 26.4 and the new conversational AI support, drivers could potentially have more in-depth conversations, but with a few significant limitations. First, Apple won't be enabling wake words, meaning drivers will have to use their dashboard controls to open the AI app before they start talking.

CarPlay apps must also be designed for "voice interaction in the driving environment," and can't show text or images in response to your questions, unlike your usual use of AI chatbots.

Also, Apple makes it clear that these apps won't be able to control your vehicle, your iPhone or related devices. So you're limited to the basic chatbot conversation, which could let you brainstorm ideas for dinner, vent about your work day or ponder the great questions of the universe. Just don't ask for home security advice and never use them for therapy, medical diagnoses, financial advice, tax planning and more. 

And always double-check that an AI chatbot hasn't hallucinated while giving you information it says is true.