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I usually rely on Siri as my go-to voice assistant while driving, especially when my iPhone is linked through Apple CarPlay. It handles everyday tasks quite well—like playing music, giving directions, setting reminders, and making calls or sending texts. However, Siri tends to struggle with more complex or nuanced questions—the kind you’d typically turn to an AI for.
Thanks to Apple’s recent update allowing third-party voice assistants on CarPlay, you can now have direct, hands-free conversations with leading AI apps while on the road. Currently, you can interact by voice with ChatGPT and Perplexity AI just as easily in your car as you would at home or anywhere else. This means you can ask questions, give commands, and even have full back-and-forth dialogues without lifting a finger.
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There’s one catch, though. While ChatGPT’s voice assistant works seamlessly with CarPlay regardless of your subscription tier—whether you’re on the free, Go, Plus, or Pro plan—Perplexity is different. To use its voice features in the car, you’ll need the Pro version, which typically costs $20 per month. That said, there are clever ways to snag a free year of Perplexity Pro, as detailed in this article by my ZDNET colleague Artie Beaty.
(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, ZDNET’s parent company, filed an April 2025 lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)
Before diving in, let’s cover the basics.
What you need to get started
First off, you’ll obviously need an iPhone and a CarPlay-compatible vehicle. My 2025 Toyota Camry came equipped with CarPlay, so I was all set. If you’re unsure whether your car supports it, check the bottom of Apple’s CarPlay page for a list of compatible vehicles and iPhone models.
Next, make sure you have the most recent versions of both the ChatGPT app and the Perplexity app installed on your iPhone. If you already use them, open the App Store, tap your profile icon, go to App Updates, pull down to refresh, and install any available updates for both apps.
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Third, your iPhone must be running iOS 26.4 or later. This update introduced CarPlay support for third-party AI chatbots including ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google Gemini, and Claude. Each AI provider needs to enable this integration—so far, OpenAI and Perplexity have done so.
Once you’ve confirmed everything is in place, start your car and connect your iPhone—either wirelessly or via Bluetooth. My Camry supports wireless charging and automatic syncing, so I don’t need to plug in a USB cable like I did with my older car.
After connecting, you should see icons for both ChatGPT and Perplexity on your CarPlay dashboard. If they’re not there, go to Settings > General > CarPlay on your iPhone, select your car, then tap Apps. You’ll see a list of all CarPlay-compatible apps—ChatGPT and Perplexity should be among them.
You can reorder the apps by dragging them using the three-line “hamburger” icon. I moved both AI apps higher in the list so they’d appear on my main screen for quick access.
To use ChatGPT, tap its icon on the CarPlay display and select “New voice chat.” Wait for the connection to establish—the screen will shift from “Connecting” to “Listening.” Then just start speaking, and ChatGPT will respond just like it normally does.
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For Perplexity AI, tap its icon, then tap “Connect.” Once the screen prompts you to “ask anything,” you’re ready to begin your conversation.
With everything configured, I recently put both ChatGPT and Perplexity to the test to see how they performed in real-world driving scenarios. I gave each one similar tasks and questions to determine which came out on top. Here’s what I asked them to do—and how they handled each challenge.
I usually ask Siri for directions, but I wanted to test whether ChatGPT or Perplexity could do the same. ChatGPT can’t provide directions because it doesn’t have access to your location. Perplexity, however, can handle this. When I asked for driving directions to Faneuil Hall in Boston, it requested permission to use my location, then opened Apple Maps with a full map and step-by-step turn-by-turn guidance.
Winner: Perplexity
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Next, I asked both AIs to recommend a nearby Mexican restaurant. Once again, ChatGPT couldn’t assist because it can’t see where I am. Perplexity, on the other hand, listed several local options and asked which one I preferred. After I made my choice, it pulled up directions through Apple Maps.
Winner: Perplexity
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Also: I tried ChatGPT’s new CarPlay integration: It’s my go-to now for the questions Siri can’t answer
Playing music is another task I typically leave to Siri—and honestly, it’s still the best option. ChatGPT can’t play music from any streaming service since it doesn’t have access to your iPhone’s apps. Perplexity claims it can play songs from Apple Music and Spotify. Outside of CarPlay, I successfully used the Perplexity app to play specific tracks from Spotify with no issues. But when I tried the same thing in the car via CarPlay, it fell short. The song showed up in the Spotify app on my phone, but I had to press play manually—completely undermining the hands-free experience.
Winner: Neither
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Making Calls, Sending Texts, and Emails
I tested both ChatGPT and Perplexity by trying to make a phone call, send a text, and send an email. Both AI assistants hit a wall here—neither could access the personal information on my phone to complete these actions. For these specific tasks, Siri remains the go-to option.
Winner: Neither
Managing Your Calendar
The results shifted in this round. As anticipated, ChatGPT was unable to connect with my calendar to check or set appointments. Perplexity, on the other hand, successfully read my existing schedule and even added new entries.
Winner: Perplexity
Setting Reminders
This round played out similarly to the last. ChatGPT failed to add a reminder to my iPhone, while Perplexity handled the task without a hitch.
Winner: Perplexity
Answering History Questions
For this test, I asked both AIs to explain the origins of the American Civil War. They both provided solid, concise answers that directly addressed the question.
Winner: Tie
Recommending Books
I asked for recommendations on top sci-fi novels from the 1960s. Each service suggested about four titles to begin with, with Perplexity throwing in a few extra suggestions. However, ChatGPT’s response stood out because it described the books with much more flair and personality. Perplexity’s reply was more straightforward, offering a simple list of titles and authors.
Winner: ChatGPT
Creative Storytelling
Here, I requested a story about my cat, Mr. Giggles, traveling to the moon. ChatGPT delivered a fun, imaginative adventure about the journey. Perplexity was much more matter-of-fact, initially noting that a real cat couldn’t go to the moon, and its story lacked the creative spark and personality of ChatGPT’s version.
Winner: ChatGPT
Playing Trivia
Wanting to play an interactive game, I had both AIs quiz me. They each came up with a variety of excellent questions covering both general and niche topics.
Winner: Tie
Learning a Language
With an upcoming trip to Italy, I asked both AIs to help me learn Italian. They both inquired about which phrases I wanted to practice. After I asked for general conversation starters, they each taught me common words and phrases, providing the Italian pronunciation and the English translation. Both corrected my mistakes and offered praise when I got them right.
Winner: Tie
Casual Conversation
Finally, I told both AIs I was bored with driving and wanted to chat. They asked for a topic, and I suggested something a bit unusual. ChatGPT fostered a genuine back-and-forth dialogue to keep me entertained. Perplexity mostly just recited facts and wasn’t as engaging.
Winner: ChatGPT
The Final Verdict
So, who comes out on top? It really depends on how you plan to use the AI. Perplexity earned significant points for its ability to provide directions and manage my calendar and reminders—though I can always rely on Siri for those functions.
The real advantage of a third-party AI on CarPlay is handling things Siri can’t, like answering complex questions, telling stories, and holding a conversation. In these areas, ChatGPT had the edge.
Of course, you aren’t limited to just one; you can try them both. But the next time I’m on a long drive and need some company, I’ll probably turn to ChatGPT for a more engaging chat.
