Apple is formally making room for AI agents in the car, adding a new voice-based conversational app category to CarPlay in iOS 26.4.
Siri remains the system-level voice assistant in CarPlay
Apple’s February 9, 2026 update to the CarPlay Developer Guide introduces a new CarPlay entitlement category for voice-driven conversational apps. The move creates an official path for third-party AI assistants to operate inside CarPlay rather than relying solely on Siri.
The change arrives as generative AI becomes more embedded across Apple platforms. CarPlay is next, but Apple is setting clear boundaries.
