CarPlay is set to become even more capable with iOS 27 arriving in September. New additions, including a dedicated Siri app and Siri AI, will enhance Apple’s car infotainment platform for iPhone users.
Even ahead of the major iPhone software release, CarPlay received improvements in August through three significant app updates.
MLB iPhone App Brings New CarPlay Improvements
First, MLB updated its iPhone application during the middle of the baseball season to enhance the CarPlay experience.
Fans can browse games that are live or scheduled to take place, select a particular matchup, and pick their preferred team’s radio broadcast.
CarPlay can also display baseball scores and important game information while the broadcast is playing, while the app’s hide-scores setting remains respected for users who want to avoid spoilers.
Meta AI Brings Its CarPlay Chatbot App to Users
Next, Meta AI on iPhone has gained CarPlay compatibility — although there is a catch.
The Meta AI application now joins three other third-party chatbot apps available through CarPlay: ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Grok.
However, Meta AI’s CarPlay functionality appears to remain limited to testing for the time being.
Even so, the development highlights one of CarPlay’s main advantages: connecting existing iPhone applications with your vehicle. Drivers simply should not expect the same level of AI chatbot variety from built-in infotainment platforms.
CarPlay Welcomes a New Weather-Focused App
The third major CarPlay application to arrive in August is Storm Radar from The Weather Channel.
Storm Radar for CarPlay provides a map centered on your location. Users can switch between satellite imagery and the standard map background. Available data layers include radar, clouds, and precipitation.
Navigation is another important component of the CarPlay app. Storm Radar shows current weather conditions along with the ETA and the weather conditions expected at the destination.
The Weather Channel says CarPlay support features “automatic rerouting and weather alerts along your route that refresh as you drive.”
Additional CarPlay Enhancements on the Way
Looking ahead, Apple will bring further CarPlay improvements to everyone with the upcoming iOS 27 iPhone update. Installing the iPhone software update, or moving to a new iPhone that runs iOS 27 when it launches, will automatically bring the new CarPlay features.
Meanwhile, Volvo has upgraded three SUVs to offer Spatial Audio through CarPlay for Apple Music and Apple Podcasts. The change gives drivers access to Dolby Atmos audio support. Earlier this year, Pioneer also introduced an aftermarket head unit capable of delivering Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio through CarPlay.