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Senators say US withholding secret FISA court ruling until Section 702 renewalOrange USB Ports Can Signal Always-On Charging, but the Color Is Not StandardizedApple Adds Selfie-Based Age Verification in iOS 27.2CISA Says Hackers Exploiting Critical PHP Bugs, Orders Federal Patch Within Three DaysApple CarPlay Keeps Tight App Limits as iOS 27 Adds AI and VideoiOS 27.2 Brings Back Messages Suggestions After iOS 27 Delay
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Apple CarPlay Keeps Tight App Limits as iOS 27 Adds AI and Video

Apple restricts CarPlay to approved app categories, while iOS 27 adds AI assistants and parked-only video.

AI News Feed · 2026-10-28 01:05

According to Engadget, there is no automatic conversion from an iPhone app to CarPlay. Developers have to reformat and simplify an interface for a dashboard display, and if they lack the time, money or inclination, the app does not appear. Apple’s published CarPlay guidelines also limit which app types are allowed. Most permitted categories are directly tied to driving, including navigation, EV charging and parking; audio, communications, public safety and quick food ordering are also allowed. Apple says it wants interface flows that are “meaningful to use while driving.”

Some categories are banned outright, including games and social media, Engadget reported. The guide also imposes narrower rules: apps cannot show the content of messages, and music apps are specifically prohibited from displaying lyrics, though the report said workarounds exist. Engadget noted that Cuphead is playable in a Tesla, but Wordle cannot be played in CarPlay. The result is that apps such as Gmail and Apple Fitness do not appear, and even apps without a fundamental usage barrier, such as Calculator or NYT Crossplay, are absent.

Drivers who believe a compatible app is missing can check their settings, according to the report. On an iPhone, users can open Settings > General > CarPlay, tap their car’s name, choose Apps, scroll to the bottom and tap the Plus button next to any app not currently showing in CarPlay. They can then use handles to arrange the apps, placing frequently used ones first.

Apple has loosened some prior restrictions in iOS 27. Engadget reported that CarPlay now supports AI voice assistants such as ChatGPT and Perplexity, which fits with a dedicated Siri AI app and Siri’s existing native integration. The update also adds support for video apps, but playback is allowed only when the vehicle is parked, and many infotainment systems cannot play video at all. When incompatibility is the cause, video apps remain hidden, and few developers appear to be adopting the feature so far. CarPlay also supports widgets, which let drivers view information from many apps that otherwise do not work on the platform.

The limits are being tested as some automakers drop CarPlay, according to Engadget. Tesla and Rivian have used faster processors and oversized screens to turn their in-vehicle experiences into fuller entertainment systems, putting pressure on Apple’s approach. Engadget said it is underwhelming if a new EV’s most capable CarPlay functions are Google Maps and Apple Podcasts.