Apple Shortcuts Gets an AI Boost: Automation Made Easier
Apple
Shortcuts
AI
Automation
macOS
Apple Intelligence
ChatGPT
7
User Empowerment
Media Hype
6/10
Real Impact
7/10
What is the Viqus Verdict?
We evaluate each news story based on its real impact versus its media hype to offer a clear and objective perspective.
AI Analysis:
While the integration is currently focused on Shortcuts, it represents a key step in Apple's strategy for making AI more accessible and directly impactful for consumers, which has more long-term significance than the current level of media buzz.
Article Summary
The latest macOS 26 update introduces a subtle but significant enhancement to Apple Shortcuts, leveraging Apple Intelligence to streamline automation workflows. Users can now integrate on-device and cloud-based large language models directly into Shortcuts, dramatically expanding their capabilities. Previously, Shortcuts was a somewhat overlooked feature focused on simple automation, but this addition allows users to create complex workflows. The article details a user’s experience creating a shortcut to automatically add event details from text messages or emails to their calendar and Reminders. The key is the ‘Use Model’ action, which offers choices of three models: an offline, private model, a server-based Apple model, and even access to ChatGPT without requiring subscriptions or API keys. While initial setups require some manual tweaking, the potential for automating repetitive tasks is substantial. This represents a shift toward empowering users to *build* with AI, rather than relying on generalized chatbots.Key Points
- Apple Intelligence is now integrated into Apple Shortcuts, opening up new automation possibilities.
- Users can leverage large language models to extract information from unstructured text and create custom workflows.
- The ‘Use Model’ action provides access to three different language models, including ChatGPT, offering flexibility and control.