Apple announced at its WWDC 2026 event that it will leverage AI to enhance the usability of its visual-scripting tool, Shortcuts, in iOS 27. Initially designed for power users wanting to automate repetitive tasks, create workflows, or set up multi-app actions, the new version allows users to simply describe what they want to do in a prompt. This feature is powered by Apple Intelligence, which helps interpret natural language descriptions to build the necessary steps.
Cecilia Dantas, senior manager of Home Software Product Marketing, admitted during the keynote, "While super powerful, the process of creating these shortcuts can feel, well, complicated." The AI update makes the Shortcuts app more approachable, expanding what non-technical users can accomplish without worrying about finding the right app actions or variables. Dantas provided a real-world example, suggesting users could design a shortcut to automatically notify their partner when they leave work and provide an expected ETA for their arrival home. Instead of figuring out how to build such automation, users can type in a request, and Shortcuts will pull together the necessary system and app actions. In this case, it would create an automation that runs once the user leaves work—accessing a stored address—calculating their ETA using Apple Maps, and sending the alert via Messages. Users can also make edits or changes by describing them; for instance, in the “leaving work” example, the user could edit it afterward to start playing a favorite podcast. The updated version of Shortcuts will roll out with iOS 27 later this fall.
Blogger's Review: Apple's integration of AI into Shortcuts significantly simplifies the workflow creation process, lowering the barrier for everyday users. This feature not only enhances user experience but also provides non-technical users with greater automation possibilities, showcasing the potential and value of AI in everyday applications.