Follow ZDNET: <\/em>Add us as a favorite source<\/span><\/a><\/span> On Google. Siri usually serves as my voice assistant when I’m driving and my iPhone is connected via Apple CarPlay. And it’s fine for interactive tasks like playing music, getting driving directions, setting reminders, and calling or texting someone. But Siri often faces more complex or challenging questions, the type of question you’d typically ask an AI.<\/p>\n With Apple’s new CarPlay support for third-party voice assistants, you’re able to talk directly and hands-free with popular AI apps. As of now, you can voice chat in the car with ChatGPT and Perplexity AI just like you do at home or elsewhere. This means you can ask them questions, make requests, and engage in back-and-forth conversations.<\/p>\n Also: Google Maps vs. Waze: I compared the two best navigation apps, and this one is better<\/strong><\/p>\n There is an obstacle here. The ChatGPIT voice assistant works with CarPlay, no matter your account type \u2013 Free, Go, Plus, or Pro. However, confusion is another story. For this, you need the Pro version, which usually costs $20 per month. But there are a few tricks to getting a free year of Perplexity Pro, as described in this article by my fellow ZDNET writer Artie Beatty.<\/p>\n (Disclosure: ZDNET’s parent company Ziff Davis filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in the training and operation of its AI systems.)<\/em><\/p>\n Before we get started, here are some primers.<\/p>\n First of all, you naturally need an iPhone and a vehicle that supports CarPlay. My 2025 Toyota Camry came with CarPlay, so I’m ready to go. Otherwise, under Apple CarPlay page<\/span><\/a><\/span> Reveals cars and iPhone models that support CarPlay.<\/p>\n Second, you must have the latest version of chatgpt app<\/span><\/a><\/span> and this tangle app<\/span><\/a><\/span> On your iPhone. If you already use the apps, tap your profile icon in the App Store app, select App Updates, swipe down on the screen to refresh it, then download the latest versions of both if necessary.<\/p>\n Plus: I gave Chrome’s AI agent permission to shop, research, and email for me \u2014 here’s how it happened<\/strong><\/p>\n Third, your iPhone must be running iOS 26.4 or later. This version added CarPlay support for third-party AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google Gemini, and Cloud. The companies behind every AI need to take advantage of this new support, with OpenAI and Perplexity leading the way.<\/p>\n Assuming you meet all the criteria, start your car and make sure your iPhone is connected wirelessly or via Bluetooth. My Camry comes with wireless charging and synchronization, so I don’t have to plug it into a USB port as I did with my previous vehicle.<\/p>\n Once your phone is connected, you should see icons for ChatGPT and Perplexity on the CarPlay dashboard screen. If not, go to Settings on your iPhone, select General and tap CarPlay. Select your car and then tap Apps. You’ll see a list of all the apps compatible with CarPlay. These should include ChatGPT and Perplexity.<\/p>\n From there, you can move two apps up or down in the list by dragging them by the three-lined hamburger icon. I moved both apps higher in the list so they were accessible from my main screen.<\/p>\n To use ChatGPT, tap the icon on the CarPlay screen, then select “New Voice Chat.” Wait for the connection to initiate, as the text on the display changes from Connecting to Listening. You can then begin your conversation, and ChatGPT will respond as normal.<\/p>\n Also: Do \u200b\u200byou want Perplexity Pro for free? 4 Ways to Get a Year of Access for $0 ($200 Value)<\/strong><\/p>\n For Perplexity AI, tap the icon on the screen, then tap Connect. When the screen invites you to “Ask Anything”, you can start chatting.<\/p>\n After setting everything up on my end, I recently tried out both ChatGPT and Perplexity to see how each performed. I posed the same questions and requests to each to see if I could declare a winner. Here are the tasks I assigned him and how he handled each of them.<\/p>\n Usually I ask Siri for driving directions, but I wanted to see if ChatGPT or Perplexity could provide them as well. ChatGPT cannot provide directions because it is unable to see my location. However, Tangle can cope with this task. In this case, I asked him for driving directions to Faneuil Hall in Boston. After requesting access to my location, Perplexity took me to Apple Maps with a map and necessary turn-by-turn steps.<\/p>\n Winner: Confused<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n show more <\/div>\n Next, I asked each to recommend a local Mexican restaurant. Again, ChatGPT couldn’t help with this because it can’t see my location. Perplexity named several nearby restaurants and asked me which one I liked. After selecting what I wanted, the AI \u200b\u200bdisplayed directions via Apple Maps.<\/p>\n Winner: Confused<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n show more <\/div>\n Also: I tried ChatGPT’s new CarPlay integration: It’s now for questions Siri can’t answer.<\/strong><\/p>\n Requesting music is another task I reserve for Siri. And that’s still the best option. ChatGPT can’t play music from any service because it doesn’t have access to my iPhone. Perplexity is believed to be able to play tunes from Apple Music and Spotify. In addition to Car and CarPlay, I used the Perplexity app to play specific songs from Spotify, which worked well. However, the AI \u200b\u200bfailed when I asked it to play a song from Spotify in the car via CarPlay. The song appeared in the Spotify app on my iPhone, but I had to start it manually, defeating the entire purpose of the hands-free approach.<\/p>\n Winner: Neither<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n show more <\/div>\n With both ChatGPT and Perplexity, I tried making a phone call, sending a text message, and sending an email. Neither of them could complete those tasks due to restrictions on accessing personal information on my phone. So I’ll stick with Siri for these requests.<\/p>\n Winner: Neither<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n show more <\/div>\n Here the results were different. As I expected, ChatGPT couldn’t access my calendar to view or make appointments. However, Perplexity was able to read my appointments and add new appointments.<\/p>\n Winner: Confused<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n show more <\/div>\n Here also the results remained the same. ChatGPT couldn’t add a reminder to my iPhone, but Perplexity was able to set a reminder.<\/p>\n Winner: Confused<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n show more <\/div>\n Here, I asked both AIs to tell me how the American Civil War started. Both gave valid and concise explanations that answered my question.<\/p>\n Winner: Tie<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n show more <\/div>\n Also: Best Satellite Phones: Expert Tests and Reviews<\/strong><\/p>\n I asked both services to recommend some of the great science-fiction novels of the 1960s. Both gave me about four titles to start with. Confusion also suggested some additional books. But Chatgpt added more flair and personality to his response by describing the books in colorful language. Confused listed only titles and authors without any additional details.<\/p>\n Winner: Chatgpt<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n show more <\/div>\n I asked both AIs to tell me a story about my cat Mister Giggles landing on the moon. Chatgpt weaves a fun and creative thread about Mr. Giggles’ journey from the Earth to the Moon. The confusion was more literal, first I was told that a cat couldn’t actually travel to the moon. The story it told also lacked the imagination and talent provided by ChatGPT.<\/p>\n Winner: Chatgpt<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n show more <\/div>\n Also: I built an iOS app in just two days with just my voice \u2013 and it was amazing<\/strong><\/p>\n In the mood to play an interactive game, I asked ChatGPT and Perplexity to challenge me with a general knowledge quiz. Both asked many excellent questions about general and specific topics.<\/p>\n Winner: Tie<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n show more <\/div>\n When planning a trip to Italy next year, I asked two AIs to help me learn Italian. Both asked me what types of phrases I would like to learn. After telling them that I wanted to practice common phrases, they each started with common words and positions, pronouncing them in Italian and explaining what they meant in English. If I mispronounced a word, both of them corrected me, but when I pronounced it correctly, both of them congratulated me.<\/p>\n Winner: Tie<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/em><\/p>\nWhat you need to get started<\/h2>\n
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