CarPlay is gaining momentum ahead of Apple’s fall software season, with three notable iPhone app updates arriving in August that expand what drivers can do behind the wheel. The improvements land before iOS 27 debuts in September, which will introduce a dedicated Siri app and Siri AI to Apple’s in-car infotainment platform.
MLB, Meta AI, and a new weather app expand CarPlay
Major League Baseball refreshed its iPhone app mid-season to strengthen the CarPlay experience. Fans can browse live and upcoming games, pick a matchup, and select their preferred team’s radio feed. The interface now displays scores and key game details while the broadcast plays. For listeners who want to avoid spoilers, the app’s hide-scores setting carries over to CarPlay.
Meta AI has also arrived on CarPlay, joining ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Grok as third-party chatbot apps that work with the system. Access appears limited to a testing phase for now. The rollout underscores a core CarPlay advantage: bringing existing iPhone apps into the vehicle, giving drivers a range of AI chatbot options that built-in systems typically don’t match.
The third addition is Storm Radar from The Weather Channel. The CarPlay version centers on a map of your location, with a toggle between satellite view and the standard map background. Available data layers include radar, clouds, and precipitation. Navigation is built in as well: Storm Radar shows current conditions alongside your estimated arrival time and the weather expected at your destination. The Weather Channel says CarPlay support also includes automatic rerouting and route-based weather alerts that refresh while you drive.
What’s next for CarPlay
Apple plans to upgrade CarPlay for all users through the upcoming iOS 27 iPhone release. Installing the update or moving to a new iPhone running iOS 27 will automatically bring the new features to CarPlay, including the dedicated Siri app and Siri AI capabilities.
Hardware support is expanding too. Volvo has added Spatial Audio through CarPlay to three of its SUVs, enabling Dolby Atmos sound for Apple Music and Apple Podcasts. Earlier this year, Pioneer released an aftermarket head unit that similarly delivers Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio through CarPlay.
CarPlay now works with more than 120 popular iPhone apps, and the August updates add live sports audio, AI chat, and detailed weather tracking to that list.
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