Redakcja Choose TV
During the WWDC 2026 conference, Apple dedicated most of its attention to Siri AI and the development of Apple Intelligence. However, overshadowed by these announcements were the changes prepared for CarPlay. It turns out that Apple's car system will receive significantly more updates than initially anticipated. The company mainly revealed these in materials aimed at developers. For drivers who use CarPlay on a daily basis, this will be one of the most interesting updates in recent years.
Video, more convenient music control and better navigation
The biggest novelty in CarPlay will be support for video applications. Apple will allow app developers to create programs enabling video playback directly on the car's screen. This feature will only work when the vehicle is stationary, ensuring that it does not affect driving safety. However, the car manufacturer will have to activate this capability in their system. This means that not all cars will receive support from day one. Users can also expect the long-awaited change in the music player. The "Now Playing" screen will finally feature a full-fledged track and podcast scrubber, allowing quick jumps to specific moments in the recording. Apple will also add a small MiniPlayer visible at all times on the screen. This will enable the driver to check the currently playing track and change it without leaving the navigation. The company will also improve the accuracy of GPS location and driving direction detection. This is intended to reduce incorrect vehicle position readings and unnecessary route recalculations. In practice, the navigation is expected to work more stably and respond more quickly to changes in direction. This may seem like a small change, but for many drivers, it could turn out to be one of the most noticeable.
Siri AI in the car and expanded app capabilities
With iOS 27, a new Siri AI will also come to CarPlay. The assistant will be able to conduct more natural conversations and remember the context of previous questions. This means that the user will not have to repeat the entire command each time. If they ask about a restaurant, they will be able to later inquire about opening hours without starting the conversation anew. However, this feature will require an iPhone 15 Pro or a newer model. Apple has also prepared new tools for developers. With these, applications will be able to display widgets and live activities directly on the CarPlay screen. Theoretically, this means the ability to track sports scores, delivery status, or other information without launching the full application. Developers will also gain access to new interfaces for voice applications and AI chatbots. Additionally, Apple will improve the stability of wireless CarPlay. The company promises fewer disconnection issues, better call quality, and more stable audio streaming. There will also be a visual refresh. CarPlay will receive new wallpapers inspired by the design of iOS 27 and subtly redesigned interface elements. The changes are not revolutionary in terms of appearance but are intended to make the system more modern and consistent with other Apple devices.
Although CarPlay was not one of the main stars of WWDC 2026, Apple has prepared surprisingly many new features for it. Users will receive support for video apps, smarter Siri AI, more convenient media controls, and more accurate navigation. Additionally, there are stability improvements and new opportunities for app developers. All the changes are set to reach users in the autumn with the launch of iOS 27.
source: digitaltrends
