Apple Plans to Allow Outside Voice-Controlled AI Chatbots in CarPlay (yahoo.com)
(Saturday February 07, 2026 @04:41PM (EditorDavid)
from the dash-bored dept.)
- Reference: 0180752018
- News link: https://apple.slashdot.org/story/26/02/07/0830248/apple-plans-to-allow-outside-voice-controlled-ai-chatbots-in-carplay
- Source link: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-plans-allow-outside-voice-191838628.html
Apple "is preparing to allow voice-controlled AI apps from other companies in CarPlay," [1]reports Bloomberg , citing "people familiar with the matter."
Bloomberg calls it "a move that will let users query AI chatbots through its vehicle interface for the first time."
> The company is working to support the apps in CarPlay within the coming months, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plan hasn't been announced. The change marks a strategic shift for Apple, which until now has only allowed its own Siri assistant as a voice-control option within its popular vehicle infotainment software. With the move, AI providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic PBC and Alphabet Inc.'s Google will be able to release CarPlay versions of their apps that include a voice-control mode...
>
> The company also has launched a higher-end version of the platform, CarPlay Ultra, that lets drivers control functions like seat adjustments and climate settings directly through Apple's software. But that system is rolling out slowly and must be customized for each automaker. That means it's likely to be a niche offering.
The article notes that Tesla is now working to support Apple's CarPlay.
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-plans-allow-outside-voice-191838628.html
Bloomberg calls it "a move that will let users query AI chatbots through its vehicle interface for the first time."
> The company is working to support the apps in CarPlay within the coming months, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plan hasn't been announced. The change marks a strategic shift for Apple, which until now has only allowed its own Siri assistant as a voice-control option within its popular vehicle infotainment software. With the move, AI providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic PBC and Alphabet Inc.'s Google will be able to release CarPlay versions of their apps that include a voice-control mode...
>
> The company also has launched a higher-end version of the platform, CarPlay Ultra, that lets drivers control functions like seat adjustments and climate settings directly through Apple's software. But that system is rolling out slowly and must be customized for each automaker. That means it's likely to be a niche offering.
The article notes that Tesla is now working to support Apple's CarPlay.
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-plans-allow-outside-voice-191838628.html
Apple Plans to Allow (Score:3)
by MpVpRb ( 1423381 )
This is the root of the problem
Apple wants total control and power to "allow"
This is why I despise and avoid Apple
Re: (Score:2)
by Big Hairy Gorilla ( 9839972 )
Bend the knee, knave.
Thou dare cast aspersions on your betters, lest they remove your right to mobility?
Tesla Grok (Score:2)
by mspohr ( 589790 )
Tesla added Grok to the in car info system some time ago. You can ask it anything!
Of course, you might get a Hitler persona answering but that could be entertaining.
Siri (Score:2)
by bradgoodman ( 964302 )
CarPlay just respond to every query saying it show me that on the web when I pull over.
Ya, but... (Score:2)
by fahrbot-bot ( 874524 )
> Apple Plans to Allow Outside Voice-Controlled AI Chatbots in CarPlay
Your mom will still insist that you use your Inside Voice when speaking in the car.
Voice-controlled AI apps in cars :o (Score:2)
Wouldn't such voice-controlled AI apps in cars be a distraction? " [1]You are experiencing a car accident [dailymotion.com]"
[1] https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9jce96
Re: (Score:2)
Precisely! If anything, CarPlay should have just a limited set of apps, such as Maps/Waze, Phone, Music/Podcasts, Sirius XM (if the owner is a subscriber) and maybe Messages. The whole idea is for essential items to be on the navigation screen, so that the driver doesn't need to fiddle w/ it
Re: (Score:3)
My take is that Apple is finally admitting that Siri is useless as a voice UI and that they're going to let you use other voice UIs.
> The whole idea is for essential items to be on the navigation screen, so that the driver doesn't need to fiddle w/ it
Of course, you're still right, because Apple's implementation won't let you replace Siri, but instead require you to launch the specific app that provides the alternative voice control. But it may be worth it to get a voice UI that is functional rather than Siri.
Re: (Score:2)
Depends on the app I suppose. But it's certainly going to be less distracting than having to use a touch UI. I don't really see how putting finer grain control into speech downgrades safety.