Comply with ZDNET: Add us as a most well-liked supply on Google.
Siri usually serves as my voice assistant once I’m driving and my iPhone is linked by way of Apple CarPlay. And that is positive for interactive duties akin to taking part in music, getting driving instructions, setting a reminder, and calling or texting somebody. However Siri usually stumbles with extra advanced or difficult questions, the sort that you just’d often ask an AI.
With Apple’s new CarPlay assist for third-party voice assistants, you are capable of discuss instantly and hands-free with fashionable AI apps. To this point, you possibly can chat by voice within the automotive with ChatGPT and Perplexity AI simply as you’ll at dwelling or elsewhere. Which means you possibly can ask them questions, make requests, and have interaction in back-and-forth conversations.
There may be one barrier right here. The ChatGPT voice assistant works with CarPlay, irrespective of your account sort — free, Go, Plus, or Professional. Perplexity, although, is one other story. For this, you want the Professional model, which usually prices $20 a month. However there are a number of tips for scoring a free 12 months of Perplexity Professional, as described on this article by my fellow ZDNET author Artie Beaty.
(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, ZDNET’s guardian firm, filed an April 2025 lawsuit in opposition to OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in coaching and working its AI programs.)
Earlier than we get began, listed here are some preliminaries.
What you have to get began
First, you naturally want an iPhone and a automobile that helps CarPlay. My 2025 Toyota Camry got here with CarPlay, so I am good to go. In any other case, the underside of Apple’s CarPlay web page reveals the vehicles and iPhone fashions that assist CarPlay.
Second, you have to have the most recent variations of the ChatGPT app and the Perplexity app in your iPhone. Should you already use the apps, faucet your profile icon within the App Retailer app, select App Updates, swipe down on the display screen to refresh it, then obtain the most recent variations of each if obligatory.
Third, your iPhone should be working iOS 26.4 or later. This model added CarPlay assist for third-party AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google Gemini, and Claude. The businesses behind every AI have to reap the benefits of this new assist, with OpenAI and Perplexity main the best way.
Assuming you meet all the factors, begin up your automotive and ensure your iPhone is linked, both wirelessly or by means of Bluetooth. My Camry comes with wi-fi charging and synchronization, so I haven’t got to plug it right into a USB port as I did with my earlier automobile.
After your cellphone is linked, you must see icons for ChatGPT and Perplexity on the CarPlay dashboard display screen. If not, go to Settings in your iPhone, choose Normal, and faucet CarPlay. Choose your automotive after which faucet Apps. You may see an inventory of all of the apps suitable with CarPlay. Amongst these ought to be ChatGPT and Perplexity.
From there, you possibly can transfer the 2 apps greater or decrease within the listing by dragging them by the three-lined hamburger icon. I moved each apps greater within the listing in order that they’d be accessible from my foremost display screen.
To make use of ChatGPT, faucet the icon on the CarPlay display screen, then select “New voice chat.” Look ahead to the connection to kick in, because the textual content on the show adjustments from Connecting to Listening. You possibly can then kick off your dialog, and ChatGPT will reply because it usually would.
For Perplexity AI, faucet the icon on the display screen, then faucet Join. When the display screen invitations you to “ask something,” you possibly can then begin chatting.
With all the things arrange on my finish, I just lately tried each ChatGPT and Perplexity to see how every carried out. I gave each related questions and requests to see if I might declare a winner. Listed below are the duties I threw at them and the way they dealt with each.
Often I ask Siri for driving instructions, however I needed to see if both ChatGPT or Perplexity might additionally present them. ChatGPT cannot serve up instructions because it’s unable to see my location. Perplexity, although, can deal with this job. On this case, I requested it for driving instructions to Faneuil Corridor in Boston. After requesting entry to my location, Perplexity took me to Apple Maps with a map and the mandatory turn-by-turn steps.
Winner: Perplexity
Present extra
Subsequent, I requested each to suggest an area Mexican restaurant. Once more, ChatGPT could not assist with this as a result of it may possibly’t view my location. Perplexity named a number of close by eating places and requested me which one I most well-liked. After I picked the one I needed, the AI displayed the instructions by way of Apple Maps.
Winner: Perplexity
Present extra
Requesting music is one other job I reserve for Siri. And that is nonetheless the best choice. ChatGPT cannot play music from any service because it would not have entry to my iPhone. Perplexity is meant to give you the option play tunes from Apple Music and Spotify. Outdoors of the automotive and CarPlay, I used the Perplexity app to play particular songs from Spotify, which labored effectively. Nonetheless, the AI failed once I requested it to play a tune from Spotify within the automotive by way of CarPlay. The tune appeared within the Spotify app on my iPhone, however I needed to manually begin it, defeating the entire function of a hands-free method.
Winner: Neither
Present extra
With each ChatGPT and Perplexity, I attempted putting a cellphone name, sending a textual content message, and sending an e-mail. Neither might accomplish these duties on account of restrictions in accessing the private information on my cellphone. So I will persist with Siri for these requests.
Winner: Neither
Present extra
Right here, the outcomes have been completely different. As I anticipated, ChatGPT could not entry my calendar to view or make appointments. Nonetheless, Perplexity was capable of learn off my appointments and add new ones.
Winner: Perplexity
Present extra
The outcomes right here have been the identical. ChatGPT could not add a reminder to my iPhone, however Perplexity was capable of arrange one.
Winner: Perplexity
Present extra
Right here, I requested each AIs to inform me how the American Civil Struggle began. Each provided legitimate and succinct explanations that answered my query.
Winner: Tie
Present extra
I requested each companies to suggest some nice science-fiction novels from the Sixties. Each gave me round 4 titles to begin. Perplexity even instructed a number of extra books. However ChatGPT added extra aptitude and persona to its response by describing the books in colourful language. Perplexity merely listed the titles and authors with none additional particulars.
Winner: ChatGPT
Present extra
I requested each AIs to inform me a narrative about my cat Mr. Giggles touchdown on the moon. ChatGPT spun a enjoyable and inventive yarn about Mr. Giggles’ journey from Earth to the moon. Perplexity was extra literal, first telling me {that a} cat could not actually journey to the moon. The story it recited additionally lacked the creativeness and aptitude that ChatGPT supplied.
Winner: ChatGPT
Present extra
Within the temper to play an interactive recreation, I requested ChatGPT and Perplexity to problem me with a trivia quiz. Each served up a number of nice questions on basic and particular subjects.
Winner: Tie
Present extra
With a visit deliberate for Italy subsequent 12 months, I requested the 2 AIs to assist me be taught Italian. Each requested me what sorts of phrases I would prefer to be taught. After telling them I needed to follow basic phrases, they every began off with widespread phrases and phrases, saying them in Italian and explaining what they meant in English. Each corrected me if I mispronounced a phrase however congratulated me once I acquired them proper.
Winner: Tie
Present extra
Lastly, I informed each companies that I used to be becoming bored and drained with driving and that I needed to talk with them to cross the time. They requested me what I needed to debate, and I instructed one thing offbeat. ChatGPT inspired a real back-and-forth dialog to maintain me engaged and . Perplexity largely recited info and did not have interaction me as a lot.
Winner: ChatGPT
Present extra
OK, so who was the last word winner? That relies upon partially on the way you’d use the AI. Perplexity scored main factors as a result of it was capable of present driving instructions and entry my calendar and reminders. However I can at all times use Siri for these sorts of duties.
The true worth of a third-party AI utilizing CarPlay is tackling issues you possibly can’t do with Siri — answering questions, telling tales, and fascinating in dialog. And right here, ChatGPT edged out the competitors.
In fact, you do not have to decide on one over the opposite. You possibly can attempt them each. However the subsequent time I am driving alone and want somebody (or one thing) to cross the time, I will be extra prone to flip to ChatGPT for an attention-grabbing chat.
