Another technological upgrade in the car: WhatsApp has decided to release the improved version of its app for Apple’s “CarPlay” system to all iPhone users, after a short testing period conducted among beta testers.
Significant visual and functional improvements
The new update changes the way drivers communicate from inside the car, offering an interface that feels much more natural to Apple’s operating system and includes new options for managing call history and viewing contact details. At the same time, the artificial intelligence giant OpenAI has also announced the integration of ChatGPT inside the vehicle space, enabling drivers to talk to the smart bot and request information or help with composing messages without any touch input, using voice only.
The most significant change in the WhatsApp application relates to the overall user experience, which now appears to be an integral part of the system installed in the car. For many years, WhatsApp’s integration within CarPlay was very limited and was mainly based on a basic voice interface that allowed users to dictate text messages or make phone calls only.
Now, the new update brings significant visual and functional improvements, such as a new contact information interface that allows users to view each contact’s profile details directly on the car screen. It appears that Meta, the company that owns the app, has understood that drivers need easier access to this data even while behind the wheel.
In addition to contact information, the app now offers a full call history interface, displaying a structured list of recent calls. Drivers can easily see whether a call was incoming, outgoing, or missed, allowing them to quickly and simply return calls. Another important feature that has been added is support for a favorites contact list via a dedicated tab, which reduces the time the driver needs to spend searching for frequently contacted people. All these upgrades are designed to make the app safer to use, even though they place more information on the screen.
Artificial intelligence is closer to the wheel
Just recently, OpenAI announced that its famous artificial intelligence service, ChatGPT, is also joining the in-car experience. Artificial intelligence is becoming closer to the steering wheel than ever before, allowing drivers to communicate with the chatbot directly from the car’s screen. This is made possible by the fact that Apple has, for the first time, opened its system to external voice-based communication apps as part of its new software version 26.4. This approach is not open to everyone, and any company wishing to integrate its app must receive special approval and comply with very strict rules.
Regarding ChatGPT, its use inside the car is limited to voice communication only. This means the system will not display written answers or complex graphics on the car screen, but will instead read the information aloud to the driver. Apple requires developers to use a dedicated interface that includes a voice control screen with a maximum of four action buttons, ensuring that the driver remains focused on the road and does not get distracted by complex menus. The system’s current capabilities focus on answering general questions, providing information about location or destination, drafting texts, or assisting in managing conversations in a user-friendly way.