Apple Introduces Native Integration Between Apple Intelligence and Shortcuts
Apple has announced one of the most significant updates to Apple Shortcuts, powered by the new artificial intelligence suite, Apple Intelligence. Introduced at WWDC 2025, the native integration between Apple Intelligence and Apple Shortcuts brings more options, new actions, and new challenges for Shortcuts developers.
A Deep Integration with Apple Intelligence
The core of this update is the ability for Shortcuts to connect with and directly utilize Apple's AI models. This means the application is no longer limited to executing a sequence of predefined commands but can now process, generate, and act on information in a much more sophisticated way.
- Direct Access to AI Models: Users can call upon Apple Intelligence models to perform tasks directly within a shortcut.
- Flexible Processing: Execution can occur locally on-device for fast and private tasks, or through Apple's Private Cloud Compute for more complex requests, always maintaining data security.
- Generative Responses: The AI model can generate responses (text, summaries, ideas) that become an active part of the workflow, allowing the shortcut to make decisions or continue with the next steps based on this new content.
New 'Intelligent Actions': What Are They?
With this integration come "intelligent actions," a completely new category of building blocks for your shortcuts. These actions are specifically designed to leverage the capabilities of Apple Intelligence.
Users will find dedicated actions for features like:
- Summarize text: Using the Writing Tools to condense documents or articles.
- Create images: Accessing Image Playground to generate visual content from a description.
Use Cases: From Creativity to Productivity
A practical example would be a shortcut designed to process voice notes a user records throughout the day. By running the shortcut on a recording that says, "Okay, remind me to buy milk on the way home and jot down this idea for a project about solar energy," the system would first transcribe the audio. Immediately after, Apple Intelligence would analyze the text to differentiate the task from the creative idea. Automatically, it would create a reminder to "Buy milk" and, at the same time, generate a new note titled "Project about solar energy" in the Notes app. Thus, a single, messy voice note is transformed into organized actions in the correct apps without any effort.
Flexibility and Privacy: ChatGPT Joins the Equation
To offer even more power and flexibility, Apple has also enabled the integration of third-party models.
- Integration with ChatGPT: Users will have the option to connect their shortcuts with ChatGPT, allowing the responses and capabilities of the popular OpenAI model to be integrated into their automated workflows.
- Privacy as a Priority: Despite this openness, the system is designed to protect user information. All processing performed by Apple's models adheres to their strict privacy protocols, ensuring that personal data is never stored or shared.