Artificial intelligence is moving closer to the steering wheel: OpenAI’s ChatGPT service is taking another step into everyday life, this time inside the car. A new update allows the app to be integrated into Apple’s CarPlay system, enabling drivers to interact with the chatbot through the car’s display without typing or using a phone.
This capability became possible after Apple opened CarPlay to external voice-based conversational apps as part of iOS 26.4. However, access is not fully open, and each app must receive special approval and comply with strict guidelines designed to minimize driver distraction.
In the case of ChatGPT, usage is limited to voice-only communication. This means the system will not display textual or visual responses on the car screen, but will instead read them aloud to the driver. Apple also requires the use of a dedicated interface featuring a voice control screen with up to four action buttons, in order to maintain simplicity and safety.
The capabilities offered by the system at this stage focus on answering general questions, providing information requests, drafting texts, or assisting in conversations - all hands-free. However, there are clear limitations: ChatGPT cannot control vehicle functions or the iPhone, and it cannot be activated using a voice wake word. To use it, the driver must first open the app manually.
CarPlay has been available for years and supports a wide range of apps, but Apple strictly limits the types of applications available. Approved categories include navigation apps, music, communication, and electric vehicle charging. The integration of smart chatbots marks a cautious expansion of the field, aiming to incorporate advanced technology without compromising driving safety.
Alongside the opportunities, questions also arise. On the one hand, this could be a tool that reduces dangerous phone use while driving and enables more convenient and safer access to information. On the other hand, there is concern about cognitive distraction, even when hands remain on the wheel and eyes stay on the road.