Grok AI Voice Mode Arrives on Apple CarPlay

[JoeShades]

Sorry but kids don't have that type of attention span. By the time you get home, curiosity is gone.

I recall asking my uncle when I was 6 "how come when I throw this baseball up in the car on the freeway, the baseball doesn't fly behind me?". He couldn't explain it properly and I lost interest.

You're doing kids a disservice if you're actively discourging the use of llm bots.

What we have is a bunch of Michael Knights, in the first few episodes of Knight Rider give it about two years

 

[IIGS User]

Why not?

I've been exploring the idea of Stoicism lately so I try not to expend physical or emotional energy on things that aren't important to me.

Musk is like the buzzing of flies to me. Pointless. Just another rich guy with rich guy problems who has no clue who I am. He can kiss my hairy yellow but. If he could find it.

 

[ayephoner]

I ask this in all seriousness, but can someone tell me a true, real-world advantage to having a chatbot in my car with me? I watched the little Grok video in the article for a potential answer. My question still stands.

My coworker is a big fan of trying all the different LLMs. He has a decent commute (30-45 minutes) and mostly uses them on voice mode in his car. He says he just runs ideas by them and sort of just has a stream of consciousness discussion with them. My brain doesn't work like that and I much prefer to ingest content on my commute, but I could see that being valuable at times if there was something I was trying to plan or figure out.

 

[Zeus2018]

I use grok daily, and all I can say is finally!

 

[dynamojoe]

It's ironic that Tesla still does not support carplay, though at least Grok is built in.

That's the first thing I thought. Musk software can run on Apple gear but he won't let CarPlay onto his Teslas.

 

[Sallah]

Oh I agree, the Tesla system is pretty good. It's a known issue that the Apple Music client in the Tesla forgets that shuffle mode is on quite often. And I don't get my Telegram messages like I did with Carplay.

Just picked up a 2026 Model Y Long Range last month. Completely in love with the car.

Congrats! The only thing I wish Tesla would integrate is Waze. Then we’d be cooking.

 

[AL2TEACH]

...and being racist
and sexist
and creepy...


Don't use Grok

I'm somewhat surprised (not really) that Apple chose to use Grok. The pressure of getting AI in stuff must be furious. So much for standards that Apple likes to show to the public. My bad, Apple just showed their eh standards/principles.

it's been nice to encourage the kiddo's curiosity.

Hopefully, you are the parent that will filter Grok's replies to his questions.

 

[xraydoc]

Grok is not the AI I'm interested in running. Sorry, Elon. Not for me.

 

[surferfb]

I'm somewhat surprised (not really) that Apple chose to use Grok. The pressure of getting AI in stuff must be furious. So much for standards that Apple likes to show to the public. My bad, Apple just showed their eh standards/principles.


Hopefully, you are the parent that will filter Grok's replies to his questions.

Apple didn't "choose" Grok, it's a CarPlay entitlement any app can request access to. As the article notes, ChatGPT and Perplexity already work on CarPlay, Grok just updated to include the feature.

Because I don't have CarPlay, I have been using Claude's voice mode for the purpose described above.

 

[AL2TEACH]

Apple didn't "choose" Grok, it's a CarPlay entitlement any AI company can request access to.

Thanks for the info and how it works. I read instructions for stuff the same way 🙂

 

[I7guy]

I'm somewhat surprised (not really) that Apple chose to use Grok. The pressure of getting AI in stuff must be furious. So much for standards that Apple likes to show to the public. My bad, Apple just showed their eh standards/principles.


Hopefully, you are the parent that will filter Grok's replies to his questions.

Please explain apples standards and principles in detail. Especially those they like to show to the public. And whatever emerges you are welcome to your opinion. Just sometimes more clarity is needed.

 

[bluespark]

I'm sorry but this is just so depressing. 5 year olds have been asking questions that parents don't know the answer to since the dawn of time and humans before us didn't need an AI chatbot to engage with their child. You're not encouraging curiosity in your child if you teach them to rely on AI to answer every question they have without doing any critical thinking to find the answer.

If you don't know the answer to their question, a better way to encourage your child's curiosity is to be honest with them and say "I'm not sure, but we can figure it out when we get home." Then engage with them in critical thinking to find the answer without just giving it to them. This also teaches them that you can't always get the answer to your questions instantaneously.

It's so weird to me how routine comments, in this case someone providing an example of how someone might want an answer to something, become fodder for people wanting to correct other people's parenting. tech_enthusiast_, the poster to whom you responded didn't say he was going to use Grok to answer every question his child might ask, and he didn't suggest he was going to stifle their thinking or creativity. He did suggest that, at least on occasion, being able to actually get an answer might be an example of how this technology might be used.

 

[AL2TEACH]

Please explain apples standards and principles in detail. Especially those they like to show to the public. And whatever emerges you are welcome to your opinion. Just sometimes more clarity is needed.

In short, do people see (whether true or false) a difference between Microsoft and Apple? Does Apple have the perception that the company is very eh humane/kinder? Does Apple have the image of caring?
This is from Bing's AI:

5.​

Apple integrates social and cultural messaging into marketing. For example, its "Shot on iPhone" campaigns include content that celebrates diversity, inclusion, and underrepresented communities. This approach aligns brand identity with cultural values that resonate globally, enhancing brand loyalty.

6.​

Apple sometimes collaborates with cultural icons or local designers, including special edition products like unique Apple Watch bands or regional app campaigns tied to cultural celebrations. These limited releases create a sense of belonging and cultural relevance, appealing to fans who identify with specific subcultures or aesthetics.

7.​

Apple tailors global campaigns to fit local cultural nuances. For instance, during events like Chinese New Year, Apple produces localized advertisements and promotions, demonstrating cultural awareness and inclusivity, which strengthens the brand’s global appeal while staying locally relevant.

1.​

Apple's iconic "Think Different" campaign celebrated innovators, artists, and cultural icons like Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr., and Picasso, positioning Apple as a brand that values creativity and individual expression. This approach aligned the brand with countercultural movements and intellectual identity, fostering a deep emotional connection with consumers interested in self-expression.

Summary: Apple’s cultural marketing revolves around storytelling, lifestyle integration, creative expression, social values, and cultural events. By embedding products within cultural narratives and community experiences, Apple consistently elevates its brand from a technology company to a symbol of creativity, identity, and cultural influence.

A little from a Konsyse.com article,

How Apple Builds and Maintains Customer Loyalty​

• Public Relations Strategy: Apple also has a public relations strategy aimed at promoting its brand further or enhancing its public image. This PR strategy supports its buzz marketing initiatives, event marketing, influencer marketing considerations, other promotional activities, and corporate social responsibility programs.

Another Bing search:

Apple’s Commitment to Social Standards​

Too numerous to list, lol.
Again, doesn't matter if the perception is true/false. Everyone understands it's about money 🙂

 

[AL2TEACH]

What we have is a bunch of Michael Knights,

Just waiting for Kit to be a low cost car. 🙂

 

[I7guy]

In short, do people see (whether true or false) a difference between Microsoft and Apple? Does Apple have the perception that the company is very eh humane/kinder? Does Apple have the image of caring?
This is from Bing's AI:

5.​

Apple integrates social and cultural messaging into marketing. For example, its "Shot on iPhone" campaigns include content that celebrates diversity, inclusion, and underrepresented communities. This approach aligns brand identity with cultural values that resonate globally, enhancing brand loyalty.

6.​

Apple sometimes collaborates with cultural icons or local designers, including special edition products like unique Apple Watch bands or regional app campaigns tied to cultural celebrations. These limited releases create a sense of belonging and cultural relevance, appealing to fans who identify with specific subcultures or aesthetics.

7.​

Apple tailors global campaigns to fit local cultural nuances. For instance, during events like Chinese New Year, Apple produces localized advertisements and promotions, demonstrating cultural awareness and inclusivity, which strengthens the brand’s global appeal while staying locally relevant.

1.​

Apple's iconic "Think Different" campaign celebrated innovators, artists, and cultural icons like Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr., and Picasso, positioning Apple as a brand that values creativity and individual expression. This approach aligned the brand with countercultural movements and intellectual identity, fostering a deep emotional connection with consumers interested in self-expression.

Summary: Apple’s cultural marketing revolves around storytelling, lifestyle integration, creative expression, social values, and cultural events. By embedding products within cultural narratives and community experiences, Apple consistently elevates its brand from a technology company to a symbol of creativity, identity, and cultural influence.

A little from a Konsyse.com article,

How Apple Builds and Maintains Customer Loyalty​

• Public Relations Strategy: Apple also has a public relations strategy aimed at promoting its brand further or enhancing its public image. This PR strategy supports its buzz marketing initiatives, event marketing, influencer marketing considerations, other promotional activities, and corporate social responsibility programs.

Another Bing search:

Apple’s Commitment to Social Standards​

Too numerous to list, lol.
Again, doesn't matter if the perception is true/false. Everyone understands it's about money 🙂

The above is an interesting response. But how does the above dovetail to this:

So much for standards that Apple likes to show to the public. My bad, Apple just showed their eh standards/principles.

 

[Jeeve Stubbs]

Disinformation Driving.

 

[svish]

Good to know. Always nice to have choice. Think more such options will be added soon.

 

[AL2TEACH]

how does the above dovetail to this:

From Apple website:

Our Values - Apple

investor.apple.com

“We believe that business, at its best, serves the public good, empowers people around the world, and binds us together as never before.” Tim Cook​

A Bing search "Apple’s Commitment to Social Standards" that uses Copilot had a few examples of their standard.

Grok and Musk are not within those social standards but it's understood that it's business.
Kudos to surferfb for pointing out to me what I didn't read 🙂

 

[I7guy]

From Apple website:

Our Values - Apple

investor.apple.com

“We believe that business, at its best, serves the public good, empowers people around the world, and binds us together as never before.” Tim Cook​

A Bing search "Apple’s Commitment to Social Standards" that uses Copilot had a few examples of their standard.

Grok and Musk are not within those social standards but it's understood that it's business.
Kudos to surferfb for pointing out to me what I didn't read 🙂

Actually both musk and cook meet that definition with spades. Renewable energy, environmental sustainability and easy to use technology and services are exactly what that quote refers to. Thanks for sharing that.

 

[macduke]

So let me get this straight. Saying: "That's a good question. I don't know, but why don't we look it up right now" is bad, but saying "That's a good question. I don't know, lets go on the computer and look it up when we get home after you've forgotten you even asked the question" is fine?

I think you’re completely missing the point. People who understand the importance of such things investigate with their child. The people who don’t just Google something for their kid. There is a big difference. Depending on the question, you can do small experiments, or explore around your home or yard to get clues.

Let’s take a simple example that would only involve a computing device, to keep things simple and relevant to your question. We can build off of human knowledge in a way that allows the child to discover the answer through reasoning.

“Dad, why is the sky blue?”

“Well, what is sky made of?”

“Air?”

“And what is air made up of?”

“Well, we breathe oxygen.”

“Yes, it’s mostly nitrogen and oxygen.” (If you or they don’t know this much, you look up this part of the question) “What color do you think these gases are?”

“Idk, maybe clear?”

“Good guess. Let’s look at a video of liquid nitrogen and liquid oxygen on YouTube.”

We watch video, see that liquid nitrogen is colorless and therefore clear, and liquid oxygen is light blue.

“See, the oxygen in the air is blue.”

“But the oxygen in front of my face isn’t blue?”

“But there is a lot of oxygen in the sky. Let’s look up how thick the earth’s atmosphere is. See? You’re looking through about sixty miles of air! Above that is considered space and there is some air around there, but past that it’s so thin it doesn’t matter.”

“Oh! So air is thin to us, but looking through lots of air makes it seem thick and we can see the color of the oxygen, which is light blue!”

“Yep! Just like when you see a mountain in the distance it looks kinda blue and hazy. Now you understand and we figured it out together!”

These moments with your child are priceless and will forever change how they approach learning and reasoning.

When we rely too much on AI, we lose the ability to think through a problem. We lose the opportunity to teach valuable insights to the next generation on how the world works and how different things can relate to each other. Our children miss out on developing critical thinking skills and how to make connections through seemingly disparate concepts.

It’s fine if you choose to only use AI with your children. Do as you please. But I’m raising my children to lead humanity into the future through independent thought and problem solving skills. AI won’t always be there for civilization in the future. Climate change alone might require a ban. But even if it doesn’t, we’re only one nuclear war, one Carrington Event, one Yellowstone away from civilization reset and rebuild. We are a precious dewdrop suspended in a sunbeam set against the frozen, unfeeling darkness of this universe.

 

[alexgowers]

I’ve yet to meet anyone who uses LLMs or is actively using them in their cars. So far my total exposure has been incredibly negative para social emotional manipulators that hallucinate.

I’m sure we’re a few psychotic individuals helped by ai to commit crimes away from LLMs being shunned by the public as dangerous both for mental health but also delusions.

 

[surferfb]

I think you’re completely missing the point. People who understand the importance of such things investigate with their child. The people who don’t just Google something for their kid. There is a big difference. Depending on the question, you can do small experiments, or explore around your home or yard to get clues.

Let’s take a simple example that would only involve a computing device, to keep things simple and relevant to your question. We can build off of human knowledge in a way that allows the child to discover the answer through reasoning.

“Dad, why is the sky blue?”

“Well, what is sky made of?”

“Air?”

“And what is air made up of?”

“Well, we breathe oxygen.”

“Yes, it’s mostly nitrogen and oxygen.” (If you or they don’t know this much, you look up this part of the question) “What color do you think these gases are?”

“Idk, maybe clear?”

“Good guess. Let’s look at a video of liquid nitrogen and liquid oxygen on YouTube.”

We watch video, see that liquid nitrogen is colorless and therefore clear, and liquid oxygen is light blue.

“See, the oxygen in the air is blue.”

“But the oxygen in front of my face isn’t blue?”

“But there is a lot of oxygen in the sky. Let’s look up how thick the earth’s atmosphere is. See? You’re looking through about sixty miles of air! Above that is considered space and there is some air around there, but past that it’s so thin it doesn’t matter.”

“Oh! So air is thin to us, but looking through lots of air makes it seem thick and we can see the color of the oxygen, which is light blue!”

“Yep! Just like when you see a mountain in the distance it looks kinda blue and hazy. Now you understand and we figured it out together!”

These moments with your child are priceless and will forever change how they approach learning and reasoning.

When we rely too much on AI, we lose the ability to think through a problem. We lose the opportunity to teach valuable insights to the next generation on how the world works and how different things can relate to each other. Our children miss out on developing critical thinking skills and how to make connections through seemingly disparate concepts.

It’s fine if you choose to only use AI with your children. Do as you please. But I’m raising my children to lead humanity into the future through independent thought and problem solving skills. AI won’t always be there for civilization in the future. Climate change alone might require a ban. But even if it doesn’t, we’re only one nuclear war, one Carrington Event, one Yellowstone away from civilization reset and rebuild. We are a precious dewdrop suspended in a sunbeam set against the frozen, unfeeling darkness of this universe.

I don’t even know where to start with this.

In what universe does me giving an example of one way I (very occasionally) use AI in the car to explain something to my kid when he asks a question I don’t know the answer to off the top of my head translate to “only use AI with my children”.

Again, people have said new technology is going to be terrible for children’s ability to learn literally since “writing” was the new technology. They’re always wrong.

Socrates Thought Reading Made You Dumb. Was He the First Luddite?

Today, reading and writing are considered essential to function in modern society, but more than 2,400 years ago in Ancient Greece, the legendary philosopher Socrates was not a fan. Famous for never w

www.realclearscience.com

I don’t think AI is any different in that regard. I want my kid to learn to use all available tools to learn and investigate do things. And AI is a fantastic tool that I use daily to make myself more productive, so I’m happy to introduce it to my kid. The same way I’ve introduced him to asking questions, looking in books, looking things up on the internet, and watching educational videos.

 

[turbineseaplane]

You're doing kids a disservice if you're actively discourging the use of llm bots.

I think this might be a stretch.

 

[turbineseaplane]

This whole conversation just makes me wish Apple were in the race in this area with their own offering. 😕

 

[BigMcGuire]

Ya know, I just don't like the name "Grok".

Does it call itself Grok or... You know. Its concerning name.

But in all seriousness, ok. I won't use it. The most I use siri for is to pull up stuff on ye maps or call someone. Maybe text. But I'm sure there are people who will find uses for these type of things. And as cars go more automated, sure.

I had no idea why Grok was chosen. What an interesting name. Then in 2025 I was reading: Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein. Ah. That was it. LOL. It's from that book... To Grok something is a Martian word to understand something completely. The book was interesting, but I grew to like the name.

Yes! that is why I use Grok, Chatgpt gets almost everything I ask voice mode wrong. I stoped using it.

It's still better at images, but Grok is getting closer by the minute.

Grok is by far my favorite LLM. I've used Chat GPT heavily for years - but Grok 3 did it for me and I've been using it solidly since then (2025).

I won't use Grok, but I am looking forward to Siri with Gemini behind it for answering questions. I'm a curious guy and the ability to get quick concise answers while driving is great.

I am in 100% support of users being able to choose the LLM they want. We should not be forced to use an LLM because XYZ company chooses for us. We should be able to use the LLM of our choice. These are tools - people have preferences. I know people who love Claude, Gemini, Chat GPT, Copilot.... ok wait no I don't know anyone who likes Copilot. I'll take that back. lol.

yep. After so many years we’re still in love and have faired much better than some we know. However that doesn’t mean that googling on a phone is any better than having a “conversation” with grok.

My Googling (which I stopped using Google in 2018 and went Duck Duck Go - and now I use Kagi as of 2 years ago)... my internet searching went from 1200-1600 a month to 150 a month. I use Grok for almost everything now. Granted, just like the internet, I don't just blindly take what it says - I love the ability to go back and forth and discuss sources it cites.

It’s not that. It’s that grok is integrated into the navigation of teslas and the driver can request complex scenarios that would require more diversion of attention.

Yeah, few people realize how cool Grok is with a Tesla.... I can verbally talk to Grok in my Tesla and tell it: "Hey, there's this really cool store around this area that I really like, it sells these items... I don't know what it's called or where it is exactly, but could you add that to my list of stops on my way to XYZ?" and BAM it does it. I still cannot believe how cool that is.