Apple's Shortcuts App Set for AI-Powered Revamp: Enhancing Automation with Natural Language Interactions

Here's what an AI revamp for Apple Shortcuts could mean - 9to5Mac

Long-time 9to5Mac readers will remember that the native Shortcuts app started as an indie project called Workflow, a clever, approachable tool that made automation fun and accessible to less technical users. Today, Shortcuts remains a powerful utility, particularly on the Mac. However, compared to how agentic AI tools have reshaped how we think about automation, it's feeling a bit stagnant. That may be about to change. As reported by Mark Gurman in today's Power On newsletter, Apple is preparing a significant overhaul of its Shortcuts app, integrating AI capabilities through its Apple Intelligence initiative: "A revamped version of its Shortcuts app, which today lets users create actions such as launching certain features within apps or playing a particular playlist. The new version will let consumers create those actions using Apple Intelligence models. (This had long been planned for 2025, but delays may push it to 2026.)" In other words, an AI-based Shortcuts app might allow more natural language interactions, further lowering the barrier for automation-curious users who might find the current interface a bit challenging to navigate. This move aligns with broader industry trends where AI is increasingly integrated into system-level functionalities. Microsoft's Copilot+ PCs, for instance, feature an AI agent capable of performing actions and daisy-chaining system adjustments based on user requests through natural language commands. Imagine combining this capability with AI-generated automations triggered by simple voice or text prompts, such as: "When I start a Zoom, Teams, Meet, or FaceTime call, activate Do Not Disturb, dim the screen, and open Notes. During the meeting, capture participant names, job titles, and key discussion points. After the call, draft an email summarizing the meeting and outlining each person's action items." This might be trivial for you, but it sure isn't for most users. And having this sort of stuff one voice command away could be really powerful. And then there's Anthropic's MCP, an open standard designed to facilitate seamless integration between AI assistants and external data sources and tools. Against all odds, it has been adopted by major players, including Google and OpenAI (who also offer their own solutions), in a rare case of cross-industry collaboration. While it's uncertain whether Apple will ever embrace MCP, its adoption would absolutely benefit users by enabling automation even further, beyond just system settings and limited local app control. Given Gurman's report that this AI-powered Shortcuts feature, initially planned for 2025, might be delayed to 2026, it's unlikely we'll see it showcased at the June 9 WWDC keynote. Still, it's a relief to know that Apple has been paying attention to this aspect of agentic AI. Whether it will deliver on its promise remains to be seen.

Shortcuts App to Get Revamp With Apple Intelligence Integration

Apple is working on a revamped version of its Shortcuts app that features Apple Intelligence integration, reports Bloomberg. For anyone unfamiliar with the Shortcuts app, the tool lets users create custom workflows or actions - called shortcuts - to perform tasks automatically or with minimal interaction. Actions can include anything from sending messages to controlling smart home devices. The app emerged out of Apple's 2017 acquisition of Workflow, which was rebranded as Shortcuts the following year. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the new version that Apple is working on will let users create actions using Apple Intelligence models. In practice, this could let users create actions with the help of AI - by issuing voice commands in natural language, for example. This should make the process easier and less intimidating for casual users. Microsoft already has Copilot+ for Windows, which does something similar. For macOS, third-party AI agents like TaskGPT aim to offer an equivalent experience, but Apple Intelligence can't yet point to a comparable AI tool in its suite of features. That's mainly because Siri has yet to leverage large language models (LLMs) - something the company is planning to rectify. The Shortcuts app revamp was reportedly planned to be released this year, but delays could see it appear in 2026, so there's a possibility it won't feature in macOS 26 or iOS/iPadOS 26 when they launch in September.

Apple's most underrated app could change soon, and you're going to love it

Apple's shortcuts app is a power user's dream. I think it's one of the most underrated features you can find on an iPhone, and even Macs. In case you haven't used it yet, it allows you to perform a multi-step task in one go, or even trigger certain actions automatically. One of my favorite shortcuts is instantly generating a QR code of a Wi-Fi network, instead of narrating a complex password. I've got another one that automatically deletes screenshots after a 30-day span. There are a few in my library that trigger Do Not Disturb mode for a certain time slot, turn any webpage into a PDF, even snap Mac windows, and activate my smart devices when I reach home. Recommended Videos All that sounds convenient, but creating those shortcuts isn't a cakewalk. The UI flow and action presets can overwhelm tech-savvy users when it comes to creating their own automations. Apple may have a user-friendly solution, thanks to AI, and you just might get it this year. Apple has the foundation ready According to Bloomberg, Apple is preparing an upgraded version of the Shortcuts app that will put AI into the mix. "The new version will let consumers create those actions using Apple Intelligence models," says the report. The AI models could be Apple's own, which means they are better suited for integration with system tools and apps than a third-party AI model. Take, for example, the Siri-ChatGPT integration. OpenAI's chatbot can handle a wide range of tasks that Siri can't accomplish, but ChatGPT isn't able to interact with other apps and system tools on your iPhone. That means it can't assist you with making cross-app Shortcuts either. At WWDC 2025, Apple is rumored to reveal its own AI models and open them to app developers, as well. The idea is to let developers natively integrate AI-driven features in their apps without having to worry about security concerns. Microsoft is already using in-house AI models for a wide range of Copilot experiences on Windows PCs. Moreover, the company also offers its Phi family of open AI models to developers for building app experiences. Apple just needs to follow in Microsoft's footsteps. With developers adopting Apple's AI foundations and the company expanding it to the Shortcuts app, it would be much easier to create multi-step workflows easily. How so? Well, just look at Gemini on Android phones. Shortcuts needs an AI makeover Imagine just narrating a workflow to Siri, and it's turned into a shortcut. That's broadly what AI tools are already capable of, but instead of creating a rule for the future, they just execute the task at hand immediately. With AI in Shortcuts, things should go like: "Hey Siri, create a shortcut that automatically replies to all messages I get on weekends regarding my unavailability, and tell them to reach me again on Monday. Trigger the action when I say the words I'm out." With natural language processing on AI models, that's feasible. Look no further than how Gemini works on Android devices, especially those with on-device Gemini Nano processing. With a voice command, Gemini can dip into your workspace data and get work done across Gmail, Docs, and more connected apps. It can even handle workflows across third-party apps such as WhatsApp and Spotify. The list keeps on growing, and as capabilities like Project Mariner and Astra are rolled out through Gemini Live, newer possibilities will open. With a revamped Shortcuts app, Apple just needs to get the voice processing right and convert the prompts into actionable commands. Apple's partner, OpenAI, already offers a feature called Operator that can autonomously handle tasks on the web. Creating a chain of commands across mobile apps that are running locally should be easier and less risky compared to browsing websites. With ChatGPT's language chops already baked at the heart of Apple Intelligence, I won't be surprised if the next-gen Shortcuts app exploits it to the fullest. Oh hey, here's a sample Talking about ChatGPT and its integration with iOS, there's already an open-source project out there that can give a rough idea of how voice commands turn into actions on an iPhone. Rounak Jain, an iOS engineer at OpenAI, has created an AI agent that transforms audio prompts into actions on an iPhone. Jain says the demo video is built atop OpenAI's GPT-4.1 AI model, and it can get work done across multiple apps with a single voice command. For example, users can control the flashlight after sliding down the control center, click and send a picture to one of their contacts, or text travel details and book a cab. Jain's demo is a clear sign that integrating an AI model at the system level, or having it perform tasks across apps, is feasible. A similar pipeline can be integrated to turn those voice commands into shortcuts, instead of executing them immediately. I am just hoping that when Apple implements AI within Shortcuts and lets users create their own routines with natural language commands, it offers a flow where users have the flexibility to modify them at will. I believe the best approach would be to show users the chain of commands and let them make adjustments before the prompt is turned into a shortcut.

Apple to Reportedly Overhaul Shortcuts App With AI-Powered Capabilities

Apple is said to be preparing a revamp of its Shortcuts app. A seasoned journalist claims that the Cupertino-based tech giant may bring artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities powered by Apple Intelligence -- its proprietary AI suite of features for iPhone, iPad, and other devices -- to the Shortcuts app. The report suggests that although Apple will demo the app and the changes at WWDC 2025, the public release may faces delays till 2026. The changes to Shortcuts app may enable users to engage in natural language interactions for playing a particular music playlist or creation of other tasks. In the latest edition of the Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman shed light on Apple's plans of overhauling its Shortcuts app. The changes will reportedly be announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025 which kicks off on June 9 at Apple Park in California. This project is expected to be part of a larger push towards improving AI integration in Apple apps and operating systems. As per Gurman, the revamped Shortcuts app may let users create custom interactions using Apple Intelligence models. For example, they will reportedly be able to launch certain features or play a select playlist using AI-powered shortcuts on Apple devices like the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. While WWDC 2025 is likely to be the destination where Apple previews its overhaul of the Shortcuts app, not all of them may immediately be released. Gurman notes that while these additions were previously expected to be introduced this year, delays could push them till 2026. On a larger front, the Cupertino-based tech giant is reported to open up its foundation models, which have about three billion parameters, to third-party developers during this year's annual developer conference. This may let creators leverage its on-device AI technology which is currently used for text summarisation and other lightweight tasks. This move is expected to result in the introduction of several more Apple Intelligence-powered features. One of the primary additions is a Siri powered by large language models (LLMs) at its core for a more conversational interface. It is likely to bring it at par with ChatGPT's Voice Mode. Meanwhile, an AI doctor service dubbed Mulberry is also said to be in development alongside a redesigned Health app, and could be introduced as a spring update for iOS 26. The company is also reportedly working on a chatbot that will serve as a competitor to ChatGPT. It may be able to pull in data from the web.