Lance Whitney of ZDNET reports a compelling exploration into the evolving world of in-car digital intelligence. For years, Siri has served as his go-to voice assistant while driving, particularly when his iPhone is connected to Apple’s CarPlay system. In that familiar setup, Siri capably manages straightforward, interaction-based tasks such as playing a song from a preferred playlist, setting timely reminders, sending or receiving calls and text messages, or providing turn-by-turn navigation. Within these boundaries, Apple’s built-in voice system performs admirably, offering drivers an easy and largely dependable hands-free experience. However, when presented with questions requiring deeper reasoning, advanced context understanding, or broader knowledge—the type of challenges one might naturally direct to a sophisticated AI model—Siri often falters, revealing its limitations beyond simple command execution.
In response to these limitations, Apple has expanded the horizon of CarPlay by introducing official support for third-party voice assistants. This marks a significant step forward, allowing drivers to engage in seamless, hands-free conversations with leading AI platforms directly through their car’s infotainment system. Among the first beneficiaries of this new ecosystem are ChatGPT and Perplexity AI, both of which can now be accessed in the vehicle just as conveniently as on a smartphone or desktop at home. The effect of this advancement is profound: drivers may now hold natural, back-and-forth voice conversations with these intelligent tools, pose complex questions, issue detailed requests, and receive dynamic verbal responses in real time—all without lifting a finger from the steering wheel.
There is, however, an important distinction between how these two AI services integrate with CarPlay. While every ChatGPT user—whether on the free, Go, Plus, or Pro subscription tier—can utilize its voice assistant through CarPlay without additional cost, Perplexity requires its Pro-level plan, typically priced at twenty dollars per month. Fortunately, some legitimate methods exist for obtaining a full year of Perplexity Pro access at no charge, as outlined by fellow ZDNET contributor Artie Beaty. (It is worth noting, as a matter of disclosure, that Ziff Davis, ZDNET’s parent company, filed a 2025 lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging the company used Ziff Davis’ copyrighted materials during the training and operation of its AI models.)
Before diving into performance comparisons, a few preliminary requirements must be met. First, you need a compatible iPhone and a vehicle supporting Apple CarPlay connectivity. For example, my own 2025 Toyota Camry came equipped with CarPlay out of the box. Those uncertain about their compatibility can consult Apple’s official CarPlay webpage, which lists every car model and iPhone version that currently supports the feature.
Next, make sure both the ChatGPT and Perplexity mobile applications are up to date. On your iPhone, open the App Store, tap your profile icon, navigate to App Updates, and refresh the list; if updates are available, download the most recent versions to ensure smooth integration. Then, confirm that your iPhone runs iOS 26.4 or later—the specific update that introduced official support for third-party AI voice assistants, including ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude. Although all four platforms now have access to CarPlay’s developer framework, only OpenAI and Perplexity have fully activated it so far.
Once everything is in place, connect the iPhone to your car—wirelessly or via Bluetooth connection. Many newer vehicles, including my Camry, feature effortless wireless syncing and onboard charging, which eliminates the need for a physical USB connection. When properly linked, icons for ChatGPT and Perplexity should appear on the CarPlay dashboard. If they are missing, navigate to Settings → General → CarPlay → your vehicle’s name → Apps, where eligible CarPlay-compatible software is listed. Reorganize the list by dragging the three-line icons so that ChatGPT and Perplexity occupy prominent positions on your main display for easier access.
Starting a conversation is simple: tap ChatGPT’s icon on the CarPlay screen, select “New voice chat,” and wait until the status indicator changes from “Connecting” to “Listening.” As soon as the system is ready, speak your request or question; ChatGPT will respond naturally, maintaining the same style of interactive exchange familiar from its regular mobile and web versions. Similarly, to use Perplexity AI, select its icon and tap “Connect.” Once prompted with “Ask anything,” you may begin your verbal inquiry, launching an AI-driven dialogue.
Curious about how these virtual copilots performed on the road, I conducted a comprehensive comparison by issuing both simple and complex queries to see which assistant delivered a superior experience. My first test replicated what I usually ask Siri—driving directions. While ChatGPT, due to privacy restrictions and lack of real-time geo-access, could not generate specific directions, Perplexity successfully handled the task. After requesting permission to access my location, it immediately routed me to Faneuil Hall in Boston by automatically opening Apple Maps with complete step-by-step navigation. In this test, Perplexity clearly emerged as the winner.
In the next challenge, I requested recommendations for nearby Mexican restaurants. Once again, ChatGPT could not determine local options without location data. Perplexity, on the other hand, identified a list of restaurants in close proximity, asked me to select one, and upon my choice, displayed turn-by-turn directions within Apple Maps. Perplexity claimed another clear victory.
When it came to playing music, however, neither AI excelled. Siri still dominates this domain due to its deep integration with Apple Music and the iPhone’s audio controls. ChatGPT was incapable of launching songs from any streaming service. Perplexity theoretically supports Apple Music and Spotify playback, and outside the CarPlay environment it performed admirably in that regard. Yet, through CarPlay, when I requested a Spotify track, the music only appeared queued within the Spotify app but never began playing automatically. Because hands-free convenience is the entire point, both assistants failed this test.
Moving to communications, I attempted to place a phone call, send a text message, and even write an email using both ChatGPT and Perplexity. Due to Apple’s data-access restrictions protecting personal information, neither AI managed to complete these actions successfully. Siri remains the only viable option for those fundamental system-level interactions. Similarly, when managing appointments or reminders, only Perplexity succeeded. It displayed my calendar events, read them aloud, and added new entries upon request, where ChatGPT lacked permission. For reminders, the same pattern persisted: Perplexity could set one directly on my iPhone; ChatGPT could not.
Turning to more general knowledge tests, both assistants performed equally well. When asked to explain the origins of the American Civil War, each produced an accurate, concise summary, demonstrating historical awareness and logical structure. In this academic-style task, the outcome was a tie. When asked to suggest classic science-fiction novels from the 1960s, both AIs generated thoughtful lists of titles. ChatGPT distinguished itself by enriching its output with vivid, engaging descriptions and stylistic flair, while Perplexity’s answer was factual but plain, only mentioning titles and authors. Here, ChatGPT’s creativity earned it the lead.
In a creative storytelling prompt involving my fictional cat, Mr. Giggles, landing on the moon, the difference in personality was unmistakable. ChatGPT enthusiastically spun a fantastical, whimsical tale filled with humor and imagination. Perplexity took a literal and pragmatic stance, noting that a cat could not realistically survive such a journey and then delivering a far less inspired narrative. Once again, ChatGPT triumphed for its expressiveness and charm.
For a lighter exercise, I asked both assistants to entertain me with a real-time trivia quiz. Each proposed enjoyable and well-structured questions spanning various topics, resulting in another dead heat. In a subsequent scenario, I sought help learning Italian before an upcoming trip. Both ChatGPT and Perplexity adapted perfectly, asking for the specific phrases I wanted to practice, pronouncing words slowly, explaining meanings, and even providing corrective feedback with encouragement when I succeeded. Their performance was equally strong—another draw.
Finally, during a long stretch of monotonous driving, I casually told both AIs that I was feeling bored and invited them to chat. ChatGPT responded with energy and conversational warmth, skillfully steering the exchange into a dynamic and engaging dialogue that maintained my interest. Perplexity replied politely but leaned toward information recitation rather than organic conversation, causing the exchange to feel markedly less personal. The human-like conversational edge gives ChatGPT the advantage in these more open-ended interactions.
So, which AI ultimately stands as the better driving companion? The answer depends on user priorities. Functionally, Perplexity excelled at tasks requiring access to personal data or location-based services, such as providing navigation directions, calendar management, and reminders—features Siri already handles capably. In contrast, ChatGPT’s strength lies in the very areas where Siri falls short: reasoning, answering nuanced questions, and sustaining natural conversation. Therefore, for drivers seeking not just assistance but genuine intellectual interaction while on the road, ChatGPT emerges as the superior CarPlay partner. Still, nothing prevents curious users from keeping both applications installed. For strictly practical errands, Perplexity shines; for engaging, spontaneous dialogue, ChatGPT takes the wheel. On my next solo drive, when I need intelligent company to make the miles pass more quickly, it will almost certainly be ChatGPT I call upon for conversation.
Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/chatgpt-perplexity-ai-carplay-voice-assistant/
