For a long time there was uncertainty as to when Apple would implement the promised end-to-end encryption of RCS messages. The announcement itself was made two and a half years ago, namely in November 2023 – the first tests were only possible with the beta versions of System 26.4. However, Apple decided against activation and postponed the function to May 26th. Now there is official confirmation that System 26.5 is actually the starting signal. When the release candidates were published (see message), Apple documented RCS encryption as one of the new features. However, the testing phase is not yet complete and the function is still declared as beta. Apple had worked with the GSM Association to contribute to the corresponding standard. The “RCS Universal Profile 3.0” also supports editing and deleting messages as well as inline replies in conversations.
Grok as another AI chatbot for CarPlay
Since iOS 26.4, Apple has allowed a further category of CarPlay apps because it is now possible to develop AI assistants for the car system. Anyone who wants to offer such apps as a developer must apply for a new CarPlay entitlement. In addition, such CarPlay versions of the assistants must be designed in such a way that drivers are not distracted. However, it is not a Siri replacement because there is no deep system integration such as wake-up words.
OpenAI and Perplexity quickly offered such a CarPlay extension, and a third AI app will soon be added. xAI plans to make Grok available for CarPlay. The function has already been activated, but at the moment only with the note to users: “Grok Voice is coming soon for Carplay”. Grok was already available as a car version for Tesla brand vehicles; plans for integration for “Android Auto” are currently unknown.
