Apple is preparing to bring AI-powered upgrades to its native Shortcuts app, marking a major leap in how users automate tasks across macOS, iOS, and beyond. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the update is part of the Apple Intelligence initiative, but despite long-term plans for a 2025 rollout, delays could push the release to 2026.
The revamped Shortcuts app will allow users to create automations using natural language, powered by Apple’s internal AI models. This means users might soon be able to say or type commands like, “When I start a FaceTime call, turn on Do Not Disturb, dim the screen, and open Notes” — all without manually building workflows.
This shift would represent a major improvement for casual users who may have found the current version of Shortcuts too technical. The upgrade follows broader industry trends, including Microsoft’s Copilot+ and Google’s AI agent efforts, making automation smarter, more accessible, and deeply integrated into the system.
However, Apple is not expected to showcase this new Shortcuts version at WWDC 2025, despite speculation. The focus at this year’s event is likely to remain on macOS 26 Tahoe and other platform-level updates, with the AI Shortcuts upgrade possibly reserved for 2026.
While there’s no indication yet that Apple will support open automation standards like Anthropic’s MCP, doing so could expand Shortcuts’ potential dramatically by enabling connections with third-party tools and platforms.
In short, Apple’s Shortcuts app is finally catching up to the AI era — even if it takes a bit longer to arrive.
