iOS 27 could finally fix Shortcuts by letting AI build automations for you

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Apple is working on a version of the Shortcuts app that can create actions for you using AI, turning what has always been a powerful but frustrating tool into something far more usable.

Backend code discovered by Nicolás Alvarez and confirmed by MacRumors points to a system where users can generate custom shortcut actions using Apple Intelligence models. Instead of manually building workflows step by step, you would describe what you want in natural language and let the system assemble it for you.

Apple is trying to remove the biggest barrier to using Shortcuts

Shortcuts has never been limited by capability. It has been limited by how hard it is to use. Even simple automations often require digging through menus, understanding logic blocks, and getting conditions exactly right.

That friction is what this change targets directly. With AI generating actions, the process shifts from building to describing. You tell your iPhone what you want, and it translates that into a working shortcut.

This builds on Apple’s earlier move in iOS 26, where Apple Intelligence support was added to Shortcuts. That update allowed AI models to be used inside shortcuts. This next step goes further by letting AI create the shortcuts themselves.

Natural language automation could make Shortcuts usable for everyone

The difference here is not just convenience. It changes who the app is for.

Right now, Shortcuts largely serves power users willing to invest time into learning it. With AI-driven creation, it becomes accessible to anyone who can describe a task.

Something like setting up a smart home routine or handling edge cases with timers and conditions no longer needs technical understanding. The system handles the logic, not the user.

Likely tied to a more capable, conversational Siri in iOS 27

The feature is expected to land alongside a revamped Siri in iOS 27. Apple is working on turning Siri into a more conversational assistant that can interact directly with apps.

If that happens, generating shortcuts through voice becomes a natural extension. Siri would not just trigger automations. It would help create them on the fly.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman previously reported that Apple was targeting this feature for 2025, with delays potentially pushing it into 2026. Current signs point to it arriving as part of the iOS 27 cycle.

Why this matters

Shortcuts has always hinted at what iOS automation could be, but most users never got there because the setup cost was too high.

If Apple gets this right, the app stops feeling like a niche power tool and starts behaving like a core system feature. Automation becomes something you casually use, not something you learn.

That shift matters more than adding new actions or integrations. It changes how people interact with their devices at a basic level.

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