CarPlay users will soon have added bragging rights over Android Auto users.
There's an app supported on Apple's system which won't be on Android.
The Android phone versus iPhone debate has raged on for decades at this point. It has even spilled over into other areas, with Android tablets doing battle with iPad models.
Now, it's the era of Android Auto versus CarPlay – and the Apple just got a major upper hand. The brand has made it possible to utilise ChatGPT on CarPlay, which is currently not offered by the Android alternative.
That means that those using an iPhone connected to their in-car infotainment display will be able to ask ChatGPT questions directly. The functionality was mentioned in iOS 26.4, but it has taken a little bit of time to get the backend implemented.
Either way, it's something that Android users currently can't do. That's because Google limits which apps can be used, favouring its own Gemini for similar tasks.
It comes as something of a leftfield turn for Apple, which has traditionally been dedicated to its walled garden ecosystem. The fact that it has done a 180° turn on that front is telling of its tough start in the AI field.
What's even more interesting is the reason why you can't use it on Android. Google doesn't allow any chatbots onto its Android Auto system – aside from its own Gemini, of course.
You aren't able to use a third-party voice-based conversation app at all in the Android system, even when parked up. It feels like an incredibly tight wall, especially when apps for watching video or playing games can be used on the system.
If you aren't someone who uses ChatGPT all that often, you might not feel as put out by this. But for anyone who does – or simply anyone who wants to ensure they're working with the best possible tech – the move will likely cause some unrest. Hopefully Apple's approval for the app changes the mind of Google in the near future.
