• 2 min read
Tesla gives Grok real control in big 2026 summer update
Tesla’s 2026 summer software update turns Grok into a fuller voice assistant with direct car controls, smarter navigation, and new app features.
Image: iXBT
Tesla has started rolling out its 2026 summer software update, and the biggest change is a much deeper integration of Grok. According to iXBT, xAI’s assistant can now do more than answer questions: it can directly control several vehicle functions.
Grok has effectively moved from a basic chatbot to a full voice assistant inside Tesla vehicles. It can now:
- make phone calls
- search for and play music
- adjust climate control temperature
- open the glovebox
- answer questions about Tesla vehicle features
Grok first appeared in Tesla’s interface in summer 2025, but at that point it acted only as a built-in conversational tool and had no access to vehicle functions. This update changes that by adding full voice control for a wider range of in-car actions.
Recommended reading
Cuktech packs 90W into a car charger with retractable USB-C
Tesla also updated navigation. The system can now analyze an owner’s daily habits and proactively suggest routes to frequently visited places such as school, the gym, or other regular destinations. It can also automatically choose a familiar route instead of the fastest one.
The update adds a new scoring system to karaoke mode as well. After a song ends, the driver can see their score, and the best result will be saved to their profile.
Some Tesla features are also moving into the mobile app. Users can now view and share Autopilot usage statistics, set a desired battery charge level in advance for arrival at a destination, and upload branded car wallpapers without using a USB drive.
Frontier Editor
Dan is our resident futurist, covering electric mobility, space exploration, and the smart home. He's interested in atoms just as much as bits. Whether it's a new battery chemistry, a reusable rocket, or a protocol that finally makes IoT devices talk to each other, Dan breaks down the engineering that pushes humanity forward.
via iXBT
