Find out how to set up and use ChatGPT, Grok, Perplexity, and other AI apps in your car via Apple CarPlay.
If you own a Tesla or follow it on social media, you might have come across viral videos showing the Grok AI voice assistant answering questions, setting navigation, alerting about location-based reminders, and more, all by just asking. Now, Grok can do all of this because it’s integrated with Tesla’s operating system. Other car manufacturers are also catching up by planning to add some form of AI voice assistance (like ChatGPT) to their cars’ infotainment systems.
In case you don’t have a Tesla, you can still use these AI voice apps in your car, but these apps will only act as a conversational tool to answer questions you ask them. It won’t be able to set navigation or do anything else.
How to set up and use ChatGPT, Grok, and Perplexity in your car
It involves four easy steps.
Step 1: Download or update the AI apps on your iPhone
The first thing you have to do is install your preferred AI app on your iPhone. In case you already have the app, go to the iOS App Store and update it to the latest version. As of now, ChatGPT, Grok, and Perplexity support CarPlay. Google Gemini and Meta’s AI are unsupported.
Step 2: Allow microphone access
When you use the AI app for the first time in your car, it will ask you to stop driving and allow microphone access on your iPhone. So, follow these steps to do it beforehand.
- Open ChatGPT, Grok, or Perplexity app on your iPhone. Log in if required.
- Tap the voice or microphone icon and allow the app to use the microphone.
- You can now close the app here.
Step 3: Show the AI app on your car’s screen
When you download a new iOS app on your iPhone that also has a CarPlay version, it starts showing automatically on your car’s screen. Still, you can make sure by following these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap General > CarPlay.
- Tap your car’s name.
- Tap Apps.
- Tap the green plus button before the desired AI app name to show it on your car’s screen. In case you don’t see some apps (like Grok or Perplexity) here, go ahead and start CarPlay, and it will appear on your car’s screen.
Step 4: Use the AI voice apps in your car
With everything set up, start wired or wireless CarPlay through your iPhone. Then open the preferred AI voice app on your car’s screen, tap the ‘new voice chat’ button, and ask your question.
I tested ChatGPT, Grok, and Perplexity in CarPlay.
All three work the same way, but Grok looked the best on the small 7-inch infotainment screen in my car. It also lets you select another voice and generally works most reliably. On top of that, its big, clear icons are easy to tap when driving.
All three apps will save your communication and show them on the first app screen in the future.
Unlike Grok in Tesla and other built-in car voice systems, you cannot invoke any of these CarPlay AI apps just by saying the “Hey name” hotword. This is once again due to the lack of deep software integration.
iOS 26 also supports CarPlay widgets, and you can add ChatGPT or Grok’s widget to your car’s dashboard. Tapping the widget will take you straight to the CarPlay version of the said app.
What will you be using these voice assistants for in your car?
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