Apple Unveils AI-Powered Shortcuts App in iOS 26 and macOS 26

At WWDC 2025, Apple introduces an AI-powered Shortcuts app | TechCrunch

The company says Shortcuts can now tap into Apple Intelligence directly, and developers will be able to access Apple's on-device large language model (LLM). With Shortcuts, users will be able to access the AI models either on device or with Private Compute to generate responses that feed into the rest of their shortcut. For instance, a student could create a shortcut that uses AI to compare their audio transcription of their class lecture to their notes, then add key points they missed. They can also tap into ChatGPT to provide further responses that feed into their shortcut's input. Users will be able to tap into intelligent actions, which are a new type of shortcut that's enabled by Apple Intelligence. For instance, there are dedicated actions like those for summarizing text with AI (Apple Intelligence's Writing Tools) or creating images with Image Playground. Apple says the new features are available for testing starting Monday. The AI-assisted Shortcuts app follows the company's announcement last year of an AI-enhanced upgrade to its virtual assistant Siri, offering more personalized features and support. However, Apple then pushed back the launch, saying it would take longer to deliver than anticipated. At WWDC 2025, the company continued to make AI promises, including the introduction of an updated version of its Shortcuts app for scripting and automation. These AI changes could make Shortcuts easier to use for the less technically inclined, who have likely avoided using the app that has so far been more a part of a power user's toolkit. For example, popular shortcuts today can help you do things like make custom memes or GIFs, create meeting notes, track time spent on certain activities, create playlists, save PDFs, find out where a photo was taken, set location-based reminders, speed dial a friend, combine screenshots, shorten URLs, download files, save items to read later, and more. The update could also work as something of a stop-gap for Apple's delays to fully upgrade Siri with AI capabilities, as leveraging AI-assisted automation could make using the iPhone at least feel more efficient. (If you're willing to put in the work around shortcut creation, that is.)

Shortcuts is the best Apple app you're not using - and iOS 26 makes it even more powerful

Apple Shortcuts is getting an AI makeover and Spotlight support for Macs. This could be a game-changer for power users. At WWDC 2025, Apple showcased multiple new functionalities coming to its Shortcuts app. While most of these features were part of the MacOS 26 announcement, the Shortcuts app on iPhone will receive this update, too. The Shortcut app can use AI directly and enables developers to access Apple's on-device large language model (LLM). This means you can use AI-based Shortcut features without requiring an active internet connection. Also: Your iPad will act more like a Mac now - here's what that looks like Apple's Shortcut app is one of the most underrated system apps across the industry. It's a built-in automation tool that can help make your Apple device truly your own by creating custom commands and actions. Not many users are aware of its capabilities because it can be overwhelming to use. But Apple is now supercharging it with AI, and that can make the Sortcuts app easier to use for more people. The updated Shortcuts app offers better AI integration across multiple apps and dedicated actions for features like Writing Tools and Image Playground. Apple will let you directly tap into AI, either on-device or with Private Cloud Compute, to generate responses within the Shortcuts app. Also: The 5 biggest MacOS features announced at WWDC 2025 For example, if you are a student, you can compare an audio recording or transcription of your class lecture with your notes to see if you missed any key points. It reminds me of when I used to carry my Microsoft Surface Pro 5 to lectures and record my French lessons while taking notes and play them later to better understand the new language. All of this now works simultaneously and is just a few taps away. The updated Shorcuts app will also allow you to use ChatGPT "for its broad world knowledge and expertise" to provide further responses. You can now run Shortcuts automatically on MacOS; for example, to save a file to a specific folder, connect a display, or perform a Shortcut at a specific time of day. I imagine setting up a Shortcut to turn on my lamp when I open Google Chrome on my Mac after sunset. Also: Every iPhone model compatible with Apple's iOS 26 (and which ones aren't) The Spotlight integration is a welcome addition for power users. Instead of just searching the web or bringing up apps, the universal search and launcher feature you open with CMD-Space can now be used to perform actions. From creating notes, adding files, or playing music, you can do it all with keyboard shortcuts. For example, at WWDC, Apple's Craig Federighi demonstrated using "sm" to quickly send a message. I think it'll be useful for times when I'm in the middle of writing stories but have to reply to urgent texts or reach out to a specific contact on my phone. It's not a new feature, per se. After all, apps like Alfred have offered similar functionalities for years, but it's now baked right into macOS. Get the morning's top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter.

Here's What You Can Do With the iOS 26 Apple Intelligence Shortcuts App

Apple overhauled the Shortcuts app in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe, and there are now Apple Intelligence options that users can take advantage of. The app supports Apple Intelligence models for things like summarizing PDFs, generating recipes, answering questions, and more. There are several pre-programmed Shortcuts in the Gallery that you can select in iOS 26. Here's what Apple offers, along with the descriptions: As the last pre-made Shortcut suggests, you can create your own shortcuts that incorporate Apple's AI model, and Apple's offerings serve as examples. When you go to create a Shortcut, there's a new Apple Intelligence section. You can opt to use an on-device model, a cloud model that takes advantage of Private Cloud Compute, or ChatGPT. There are some pre-determined options, so you can do things like open Visual Intelligence or generate an image with Image Playground. When you tap on Cloud, On-Device Model, or ChatGPT, there's an open-ended prompt where you can write in what you want to do. You need to work within the confines of the model that Apple provides, pairing it with other functionality in Shortcuts. You can pull in data from the Weather app, your Calendar, and Reminders, then ask the model to prepare a summary, for example. AI models can be incorporated into any Shortcut.

Apple's Shortcuts app is getting a huge upgrade in iOS 26 and macOS 26 -- here's how it will help you

You may not know it, but there's an app built right into your iPhone, iPad, and Mac that can supercharge your experience using all those products -- and it's about to get even more powerful. That app is Shortcuts, and it lets you automate tasks on your devices, even across apps. You can have it do everything from a simple job of creating a GIF of a Live Photo to a complex system that lets you annotate a podcast as you're recording it, and way, way more. You build these workflows in the Shortcuts app by selecting actions and stringing them together: passing information from, say, the clipboard and having the system scan any text in the image, and then overlay it on an image you specify in order to create a meme. With this year's updates to Apple's platforms previewed at WWDC 2025, Shortcuts is able to do even more, including leveraging Apple Intelligence features and automating actions on the Mac. That will make this automation tool even more versatile and able to handle more complex tasks than ever before -- even if it still has some flaws that could stand addressing. Let's start with what's new about Shortcuts in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26 Tahoe. Among the biggest features is the ability to tap into Apple's suite of Apple Intelligence tools. That's via a broad assortment of new actions you can include in your shortcuts. For example, new actions based on Apple's Writing Tools feature allows you to pass in text and have it proofread, rewritten, or summarized. They offer pretty much all the same options as the manual Writing Tools interface, such as changing the tone to make it friendlier or more professional, or creating a list of key points or a table. Other actions allow you to access Apple Intelligence's Image Playground tool, automatically generating an image based on a prompt via the on-machine models or ChatGPT, and to transcribe audio. But there's one more action that's the most powerful and likely to make the biggest splash: Use Model. This is an open-ended command that allows you to simply enter a prompt and have it processed with one of three different large language models: the on-device one that resides on your own iPhone, Mac, or iPad; Apple's remote Private Cloud Compute; or ChatGPT. That opens up some truly wild capabilities, such as being able to process large amounts of text -- say class notes, or a document you're writing for work -- and have it then actually interact with other apps on your device, dropping summarized points into your word processor or other note-taking app. Or summarizing a document and immediately sending an email or text with that data. And of course, you can chain these AI actions together, using Shortcuts to transcribe audio of a lecture or interview and then automatically generate a summary or list of bullet points. Using the on-device model also allows you to create workflows that don't depend on cloud connectivity and also avoid some of the more significant environmental and privacy implications of generative AI. However, there is one caveat: since these actions are based on Apple Intelligence, they require a device capable of those features, which means an Apple Silicon-based iPads or Macs, or an iPhone 15 Pro or better. The addition of Apple Intelligence isn't the only major change to Shortcuts this year. Over on macOS Tahoe, the app also gets one long-awaited feature that brings it up to snuff with the versions of Shortcuts on iOS and iPadOS: Automation. On mobile platforms, you've previously been able to create routines that run automatically, triggered by conditions -- say, switching your iPhone over to Low Power Mode when it drops beneath a certain battery percentage or having your smart lights turn on at a certain time of the day. But now those features come to the Mac, along with options specifically designed for the platform, such as those that trigger when a file or folder contents change, or when an external drive connects. That opens up a host of possibilities for automating your Mac that were previously the domain of more complex third-party apps like Hazel. As such, Shortcuts for macOS 26 potentially expands the audience of automation, which could in turn encourage Apple to invest more time and energy in the systems. As someone who loves automation in its many forms and has been working with Shortcuts for many years, I'm looking forward to using this new functionality to create even more powerful workflows. For example, I've long tried to automate the creation, logging, and filing of receipts -- heady stuff, I know -- but have found myself struggling to have Shortcuts parse that data accurately from emails and PDFs, given how disparately it might be formatted. But with these AI-powered actions, it's easier to throw a wall of text at the app and have it pick out specific information like dates or dollar amounts -- that's just the kind of thing that LLMs are good at. However, a lot of that excitement remains tempered due to the current limitations within Shortcuts. The app itself remains rudimentary even in these latest updates, with no ability to create more complex workflows relying on time-honored programming constructs like conditioned loops or more complex if...then...else statements. As a result, a lot of the more complicated tasks that one might want to carry out require falling back to other languages that link in to Shortcuts, such as running shell scripts or AppleScript. And many features within Apple's operating systems still aren't controllable by the app, including longstanding features like Spaces on the Mac. Still, this year's additions bode well for the future of Shortcuts and indicate that Apple does at least remember that its latest solution to automation still exists, unlike previous efforts such as Automator and AppleScript (both of which are still around on the Mac). That gives me some hope that we might continue to see Shortcuts push forward when Apple rolls out its next updates a year from now.

The New Power of Shortcuts: iOS 26 & Apple Intelligence Explained

Apple's iOS 26 introduces a significant update to its Shortcuts app, using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance productivity. These updates are designed to streamline task management, automate workflows, and personalize your digital experience. By focusing on smarter automation and user efficiency, iOS 26 establishes itself as a powerful tool for productivity enthusiasts seeking to optimize their daily routines. The detailed video below from Stephen Robles gives us more details on Apple shortcuts in iOS 26. How AI Enhances Apple Shortcuts At the heart of iOS 26 is a more intelligent Shortcuts app, powered by advanced AI capabilities. This enhanced intelligence enables the app to anticipate your needs with impressive accuracy, offering suggestions tailored to your habits and preferences. For example, if you frequently set reminders for meetings, the app can automatically generate shortcuts that integrate your calendar, messaging, and task management tools into a seamless workflow. This predictive functionality not only saves time but also reduces the mental effort required for repetitive tasks. By learning from your behavior, the app evolves to provide increasingly relevant recommendations, making sure that your workflows become more efficient over time. The integration of AI transforms the Shortcuts app into a proactive assistant, helping you stay organized and focused. Dynamic Automation for Smarter Workflows Automation in iOS 26 goes beyond static task execution, introducing workflows that adapt dynamically to your context. The integration of advanced AI allows you to create shortcuts that respond to variables such as location, time of day, or even weather conditions. For instance, imagine arriving at your workplace and having your device automatically silence notifications, open work-related apps, and display your schedule -- all without requiring manual input. This level of contextual automation enhances convenience and ensures that your device operates seamlessly in the background to support your goals. By adapting to your environment, iOS 26 enables a more fluid and intuitive user experience. Streamlined Task Management Task management becomes more intuitive and efficient with the updated Shortcuts app in iOS 26. The app now integrates deeply with Apple's native tools, such as Notes, Reminders, and Calendar, as well as third-party applications. This integration allows you to consolidate your task management into a single, unified system, reducing the need to switch between multiple apps. Whether you're organizing a complex project or managing daily to-do lists, the enhanced Shortcuts app ensures that your tasks remain accessible and actionable. By minimizing distractions and centralizing your workflow, the app helps you stay focused on what matters most. This streamlined approach to task management is particularly beneficial for users juggling multiple responsibilities. Personalization Tailored to Your Needs Personalization is a key feature of iOS 26, and the Shortcuts app exemplifies this by adapting to your unique workflows. The AI learns from your interactions, refining its suggestions over time to better align with your preferences and priorities. For example, if fitness is a central part of your routine, the app might recommend shortcuts that integrate workout tracking, curated music playlists, and health data. Similarly, if you prioritize work-related tasks, it can suggest shortcuts that optimize your productivity tools. This tailored approach ensures that your device evolves alongside your changing needs, making it a truly personalized productivity companion. Maximizing Efficiency Through Automation The updates in iOS 26 are designed to help you achieve more by reducing friction in your daily routines. By automating repetitive tasks and offering intelligent recommendations, the Shortcuts app allows you to focus on high-priority activities. Whether you're a professional managing multiple projects or a student balancing assignments, the enhanced efficiency of iOS 26 enables you to accomplish more in less time. The app's ability to handle routine tasks frees up your mental bandwidth, allowing you to dedicate more energy to creative and strategic thinking. This focus on efficiency ensures that your time is spent on what truly matters. Accessibility for All Users iOS 26 emphasizes usability, making sure that the Shortcuts app is accessible to users of all technical skill levels. The app features a refined interface that simplifies the creation and management of workflows, making it easier than ever to harness the power of automation. Additionally, the integration of natural language processing allows you to create shortcuts using conversational commands. This intuitive feature enables you to build complex workflows without requiring advanced technical knowledge. By prioritizing simplicity and accessibility, Apple ensures that the benefits of automation are available to everyone, regardless of their familiarity with technology. A New Standard for Productivity The advancements in iOS 26 represent a significant leap forward in how you interact with your device. By combining enhanced AI, smarter automation, and a focus on personalization, Apple has set a new standard for productivity tools. The improved Shortcuts app not only simplifies task management but also enables you to work more efficiently. Whether you're optimizing your daily routines or tackling complex projects, iOS 26 equips you with the tools to stay ahead. With these innovations, Apple continues to redefine the possibilities of digital productivity, offering a smarter and more seamless user experience. Stay informed about the latest in iOS 26 by exploring our other resources and articles.