Apple Unveils AI-Powered Shortcuts App at WWDC 2025

At WWDC 2025, Apple unveiled a significant upgrade to its Shortcuts app, now powered by artificial intelligence. This new version taps directly into Apple Intelligence, allowing users and developers to access Apple’s on-device large language model (LLM) for smarter automation.

The integration of AI means users can generate responses on-device or use Private Compute, ensuring privacy while enhancing functionality. For example, a student could create a shortcut that compares an audio transcription of a lecture with their notes, automatically identifying and adding key points they may have missed.

Moreover, the app supports integration with ChatGPT, enabling users to pull in AI-generated responses that feed into their shortcuts’ inputs. This hybrid approach combines the power of on-device AI with cloud-based models for versatile and powerful automation.

Apple also introduced "intelligent actions," a new category of shortcuts powered by Apple Intelligence. These include dedicated AI-driven tools like text summarization and image creation via the Image Playground, expanding the creative and productivity possibilities within the app.

This update could lower the barrier for less technical users who have previously found Shortcuts intimidating, making it easier to automate everyday tasks like creating meeting notes, generating memes, tracking time, or setting location-based reminders.

Interestingly, this AI-powered Shortcuts app arrives amid Apple’s ongoing efforts to enhance Siri with AI capabilities, which have faced delays. In the meantime, AI-assisted automation in Shortcuts offers a practical way to make iPhone usage feel more intelligent and efficient.

Real-World Applications of AI-Powered Shortcuts

The new AI capabilities in Shortcuts open up exciting possibilities for users and developers alike:

• Students can automate study workflows by comparing lecture transcriptions to notes and highlighting missed points.
• Content creators can generate summaries or create images seamlessly within their automation scripts.
• Everyday users can simplify tasks like managing reminders, making playlists, or saving articles to read later.

By blending on-device AI with cloud services like ChatGPT, Apple is creating a flexible ecosystem that respects privacy while delivering powerful AI-driven experiences.

For developers, this means new opportunities to build smarter apps that leverage Apple’s AI models directly within Shortcuts, enhancing user engagement and functionality.

In essence, Apple’s AI-powered Shortcuts app is a game-changer for automation on iOS, making AI-driven workflows accessible, private, and powerful.