ChatGPT is coming to CarPlay! What does that mean?

Apple is preparing to incorporate AI such as ChatGPT and Gemini into CarPlay in the next iOS update.

CarPlay is a feature that allows you to use navigation, music, phone calls, etc. on the car screen when you connect your iPhone to your car. Approximately 80% of new cars now support it, so I'm sure many people have used it.

The inclusion of AI such as ChatGPT and Claude (so-called "chat AI") means that you can just talk to Siri while driving and the extremely intelligent AI will respond.

What's different about Siri?

Honestly, the current Siri is a bit clumsy. "Tell me about a ramen restaurant near me" is fine, but if you ask a slightly more complicated question, the answer will be "Do you want to search on the web?"

However, if you use ChatGPT or Gemini, you will be able to have conversations like this.

  • "I want to get there in 30 minutes, but which is faster, the highway or the subway? Also consider traffic jams."
  • "Please tell me the main points of the email you just received in 3 lines"
  • “What should we have for dinner today? I have chicken and cabbage in the fridge.”

In other words, you will be able to talk to your car as if you were talking to a friend. This is quite amazing.

What exactly will you be able to do?

Roughly summarized, it looks like this.

Navigation related:
It's OK to make vague requests like ``I'd like to stop at a convenience store on the way, but I'd like to take a route that doesn't take too long.'' You don't have to flick the screen every time.

Email message:
AI reads the content of the received email and summarizes it. Replies can be completed by saying, ``I understand and send it.''

Schedule management:
Simply ask, "What time is your next appointment?" or "Are you going to make it?" and the calendar and navigation will work together to tell you.

Lifestyle Questions:
Even simple research such as recipes, weather, news summaries, etc. can be completed with just your voice.

What about safety? Is it okay to not look at the screen?

Actually, this is rather a plus in terms of safety.

What is currently a problem is the use of smartphones while using a smartphone. I end up looking at the screen when changing navigation settings or checking messages. But if the AI ​​assistant gets smarter, it can all be done using your voice and you won't need to look at the screen.

However, there are some caveats. AI can sometimes make mistakes (this is called "hallucination"), so it's dangerous to rely 100% on navigation information. Just be a ``smart assistant'' and make the final decision yourself.

When can I use it? What about Japan?

Apple is expected to fully support it with an iOS update in the second half of 2025. However, it will probably be a while before it can be fully used in Japanese.

This is because Apple Intelligence's Japanese support is still progressing step by step. It is expected that the English version will take the lead, and the Japanese version will lag a little behind.

However, Google's Gemini is also working on implementing Android Auto, and this genre is currently moving at a tremendous pace. There is no doubt that 2025-2026 will be the ``first year of in-vehicle AI''.

FAQ

Does it cost money to use ChatGPT with CarPlay?

The basic functions are included in Apple Intelligence on the iPhone, so it is expected to be available for free. However, if you want to fully use ChatGPT's higher-end models (such as GPT-4o), you may need a separate ChatGPT Plus contract.

Can it be used in older cars?

You can use it if you have a car that supports CarPlay (or a car navigation system that supports CarPlay). The iPhone side must be compatible with iOS 19 or higher. Even if your car is old, you can retrofit it with a CarPlay compatible car navigation system.

Isn't it illegal to talk to AI while driving?

Voice operations do not fall under "while using a smartphone". It is treated the same as hands-free calling. However, avoid becoming distracted by concentrating too much on the conversation.

Can I use AI other than ChatGPT?

Apple is collaborating not only with ChatGPT (OpenAI) but also with Google Gemini. Claude (Anthropic) may also be an option in the future. There may be a system in which the optimal AI is automatically selected depending on the purpose.

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