Apple is preparing to open up CarPlay to voice-controlled artificial intelligence apps from other companies, according to a report by CNA, which quoted people familiar with the matter.
The move would mark a shift for Apple, which has until now restricted voice control in CarPlay to its own Siri assistant. For the first time, drivers would be able to access third-party AI chatbots directly through the in-car interface.
AI providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Alphabet-owned Google could release CarPlay-compatible versions of their apps with voice-control features. Apple, however, will not allow users to replace the Siri button or the wake word used to activate voice commands.
Instead, users will need to manually open a third-party app to use its voice assistant, although developers can design apps to automatically launch voice mode once the app is opened.
According to the report, Apple is aiming to support the new functionality within the coming month. The company declined to comment.
