Apple’s AI fundamentals will be opened to the entire portfolio. Not least thanks to the slow development of Siri, Apple had to rely on ChatGPT for Apple Intelligence. A few weeks ago, the company announced that it would use the same underpinnings as Gemini to power the next-gen version of Siri.
What is changing?
The next path to “AI externalization” in the Apple ecosystem is CarPlay. According to Bloomberg, Apple plans to allow AI models from other companies in its in-car digital connectivity system. Previously, CarPlay only allowed Siri as the only digital assistant.
“This move will allow AI vendors such as Alphabet Inc.’s OpenAI, Anthropic PBC and Google to release CarPlay versions of their apps that include a voice control mode,” Bloomberg reports. Given Apple’s recent partnerships with Google and OpenAI, it’s actually quite surprising that it’s taken this long for these apps to end up in the CarPlay stack.
The launch of ChatGPT and Gemini comes at a time when CarPlay Ultra is struggling to find partners. So far it has been limited to Aston Martin vehicles and could be expanded to Hyundai or Kia vehicles later this year.
Why is it important?
Google, on the other hand, has already demonstrated extensive Gemini integration in cars running the Android Auto stack. Mercedes-Benz introduced a Gemini-based assistant a year ago and integrated it into the MBUX Virtual Assistant system. Google even plans to integrate Gemini shortcuts and widgets into cars.
Apple is finally making a course correction, but it won’t be a completely open playground for companies like Google, OpenAI and Anthropic. “Apple won’t let users replace the Siri button on CarPlay or the wake word that invokes the service,” the Bloomberg report adds.
This means that Siri will continue to be the default assistant, while other AI assistants such as ChatGPT or Gemini can only be accessed by opening their dedicated apps designed for the CarPlay platform. It would be interesting to see if these assistants can also interact with other system apps such as Map or Apple Music, in the same way that can already be achieved on phones as agent work.
