Siri no longer alone? Apple could bring more AI to CarPlay

New Delhi: Apple is now gearing up to open up its CarPlay system to third-party voice-controlled AI applications. This latest update would enable the drivers to access other AI chatbots in CarPlay, instead of depending only on Apple’s voice assistant. Apple has only allowed Siri to handle those voice commands inside the CarPlay. Google also offers a voice-enabled version of its applications on CarPlay. CarPlay is Apple’s in-car system that mirrors key iPhone features on the car’s dashboard screen, enabling drivers to use navigation, music, calls, and messages through touch or voice controls while driving the vehicle.

Apple is also working to add this support for third-party AI applications with the voice mode in CarPlay in the coming months. The plan has not been officially announced, but this could enable the drivers to ask questions or get suggestions from the AI chatbots without taking their hands off the wheel. Apple customers have been asking for such features for months, and there is no guarantee that all of the AI developers will choose to support CarPlay.

Apple will not allow the third-party application to replace the Siri button or the wake word, which was used to activate it. Now the users will need to open an AI application within the CarPlay to use its voice features. Developers might design their applications so that the voice mode starts automatically when the application is opened, which could make the experience smoother. Siri is typically used in CarPlay for the tasks like playing music, sending messages, and navigation. Many of the users now rely on services such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and other AI voice applications for more general questions that Siri does not always handle well.

While the other AI applications can currently be used through the car’s speakerphone, this method works outside CarPlay and can be unreliable. Some of the users also rely on workarounds like the shortcuts synced from an iPhone. Apple is also continuing to develop its own technology after having this much of upgrades. The company is also planning to update Siri later this year, which will include features such as web-based answers and online summaries.