iOS 27 might resolve a major issue with the Shortcuts app, and I'm eagerly looking forward to it.
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"Hey Siri, can you create a shortcut for me that takes a picture of my food, records the nutritional information, and then reminds me to burn calories after six hours? Please?"
For years, the Shortcuts app on the iPhone has been a source of frustration for users. While it is a powerful tool for creating automations and performing multi-step tasks quickly, the shortcut creation process has often been complex and a test of patience.
It appears that Apple has finally taken user feedback into account and is set to provide a significant functional update to the Shortcuts app with the launch of iOS 2027. According to Bloomberg, Apple will allow users to describe the shortcuts they want in natural language, and AI will generate them.
What’s changing?
“The version currently being tested allows users to create shortcuts just by describing their desired actions. Currently, users must build shortcuts manually within the app or download them from Apple's gallery,” states the Bloomberg report. “The system then automatically constructs and installs the shortcut on the device.”
At present, the Shortcuts app is filled with functions, calls, and app integrations that are hidden behind obscure commands, despite most working seamlessly with Apple's pre-installed applications. However, users face limitations when trying to create shortcuts that interact with third-party apps.
However, the frustration extends beyond just third-party app limitations. The entire user interface is quite complicated for an average person attempting to create automation. With iOS 27, it seems Apple will finally allow users to simply request a shortcut, provided they understand the command flow and desired outcome.
It’s not revolutionary
It’s encouraging that Apple is finally focusing on the Shortcuts app and addressing an important pain point. However, this isn't their first attempt at this kind of functionality. Following the introduction of Apple intelligence on iPhones, AI automations were incorporated into the Shortcuts app. Currently, you can choose between an on-device local model or an AI model hosted on Apple’s cloud servers. Yet, these AI models are still quite limited, and integrating them into a new shortcut remains cumbersome.
This isn’t the first attempt of its kind. For instance, Anthropic’s Claude AI allows for the creation of artifacts or even full applications simply through user descriptions. Similarly, natural language conversations can be utilized to create custom GPTs for ChatGPT or complex capabilities for Google’s Gemini AI. It seems Apple is drawing some inspiration from these competing AI chatbots by finally enabling users to create elaborate Shortcuts using natural language prompts.
Nadeem is the Managing Editor at Digital Trends.
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iOS 27 might resolve a major issue with the Shortcuts app, and I'm eagerly looking forward to it.
Apple is preparing a significant update for the Shortcuts app in iOS 27. With the help of AI, users will have the ability to create multi-step shortcuts just by describing them in natural language.