CarPlay Gets Major Video & Siri AI Boost with iOS 27

Apple's iOS 27 update introduces substantial improvements to CarPlay, enhancing the in-car experience for users with compatible iPhones. A notable addition is the support for video applications, allowing drivers and passengers to watch content on their vehicle's display, though playback automatically switches to audio-only when the car is in motion for safety.

Audio playback has also seen enhancements with a new Now Playing screen featuring a progress bar and a mini-player displaying album artwork. Navigation apps can now share route data, crucial for electric vehicle charging stops, allowing vehicles to suggest charging locations based on mapped routes.

The update also brings the powerful Siri AI to CarPlay. This allows for natural language commands and personalized assistance, drawing information from emails, messages, and calendars. However, this advanced Siri feature requires an iPhone 15 Pro or later, while older compatible iPhones running iOS 27 will receive other CarPlay upgrades like the mini-player and new wallpapers.

CarPlay has reportedly become more reliable with iOS 27, offering a more consistent wireless connection and more accurate GPS reporting. New wallpapers are also available. Notably, Siri AI is not available in the European Union due to local regulations, though other CarPlay features will still be accessible.