If you’ve ever dreamed of talking to your car, Apple may have good news for you. The latest CarPlay developer guide includes support for “voice-based conversational apps,” a sign that Apple could be about to open the doors to AI Chatbot Applications as ChatGPT, Gemini And Claude right on your dashboard.
The guidelines say AI companies like Google or OpenAI will need to create an interface showing that conversational AI is listening in CarPlaythen “respond appropriately to questions or requests and take actions.”
Support is expected to arrive in March with the release of iOS 26.4which is currently in beta. Companies that want to participate will have to jump through all of Apple’s usual hurdles to qualify. CarPlay.
An Apple representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
How will talking to AI while driving work?
Conversational AI will have limits in CarPlay.
Apple/Screenshot by Joe Maldonado/CNETApple has limited the apps that work with CarPlay, in part to help drivers stay focused and distraction-free. Siri commands were activated in certain circumstances, but that was it.
With iOS 26.4 and new support for conversational AI, drivers could potentially have deeper conversations, but with some significant limitations. First, Apple won’t allow wake words, meaning drivers will have to use their dashboard controls to open the AI app before they start speaking.
CarPlay apps must also be designed for “voice interaction in the driving environment” and cannot display text or images in response to your questions, unlike your typical use of AI chatbots.
In addition, Apple specifies that these applications will not be able to control your vehicle, your iPhone or associated devices. So you’re limited to basic chatbot conversation, which might allow you to brainstorm ideas for dinner, vent about your work day, or ponder the big questions of the universe. Just don’t ask for home security advice And never use them for therapeutic purposesmedical diagnostics, financial advice, tax planning and more.
And always check this and the AI chatbot didn’t do it hallucinated while giving you information, it says it’s true.