El jefe de software de Rivian afirma que Apple CarPlay y Android Auto son redundantes en la era de la inteligencia artificial.

      **Apple CarPlay Display**

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      If you prioritize top-notch smartphone integration in your new vehicles, changes are on the horizon. Rivian's Chief Software Officer, Wassym Bensaid, predicts that dedicated app integration will soon become obsolete due to the rise of AI, which has become a popular buzzword in technology.

      Bensaid’s logic is straightforward: while screen mirroring can be effective, it often takes over the entire display, although this has become less frequent with modern tile-based infotainment interfaces. It tends to bypass the user experience crafted by the design and software teams.

      According to Bensaid, with AI, an automaker like Rivian can provide the same features as a dedicated app without compromising on the original factory interface. To achieve seamless integration, Rivian will need to depend heavily on voice commands, similar to how its current assistant functions for texting and other basic tasks.

      Looking forward, Bensaid believes that AI will enhance user experience, enabling a more effective use of the automotive context:

      “I truly believe that the way we currently interact with apps—which are often linear, with single buttons and icons—will transform into an agentic integration that offers a more comprehensive user experience,” Bensaid explained during an interview on The Verge’s Decoder podcast (credit to MacRumors).

      “With the range of features we’ve delivered to customers, the level of integration we provide, and the convenience we’re introducing, CarPlay and, to some extent, Android Auto, are no longer the focal point,” he added.

      In essence, the direction we are heading means we may not need apps at all.

      This is naturally attractive to automakers as it allows them greater control over the customer experience—an area that manufacturers with marketing budgets (which is all of them) are increasingly seeking to leverage, whether through subscriptions, integrated e-commerce, or direct advertising. However, this transition won’t occur instantly; the necessary tools aren’t ready yet.

      Conversely, fans of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay can argue that these apps function effectively. Moreover, their developers have a vested interest in maintaining compatibility with new phone models, unlike automakers, who operate within product cycles averaging about seven years. Ensuring that a new vehicle launches with the latest technology at such a pace often challenges many automakers; imagining how complicated that will be in another five or ten years, as the earliest smartphone-mirroring infotainment systems age, poses a significant concern.

      Supporting vehicles that are no longer in production becomes much more appealing to automakers when a steady revenue stream accompanies it. Updates to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility don't inherently offer this opportunity—unless customers are willing to pay to ensure their phones stay compatible.

      In addition, a single-app solution effectively guarantees widespread phone compatibility, although there may be exceptions with older Android devices. Both automakers and phone manufacturers depend on the software for connectivity, requiring only a one-time validation of compatibility. This often leads to straightforward integration for the automaker and a positive experience for the consumer.

      Unfortunately, a platform that “just works” complicates efforts to upsell customers on something “better.”

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