Apple brings natural language automation to Shortcuts in iOS 27

Apple has announced an update to Shortcuts, its visual-scripting automation app, integrating Apple Intelligence to simplify how users build workflows. Shortcuts has traditionally relied on visual-scripting—a method of programming that requires users to connect graphical elements and variables rather than writing text-based code. Revealed for the upcoming iOS 27 operating system, the new update will allow users to create these automation workflows by simply writing natural language prompts. This integration of Apple’s AI platform represents a shift from manual visual-scripting, enabling the software to interpret human-readable text descriptions and automatically assemble the necessary steps.

The update directly addresses the historical complexity of the Shortcuts app. Historically, the tool was designed primarily for power users who wanted to automate repetitive tasks or coordinate actions across multiple applications. However, the manual process of finding specific app actions and variables often presented a steep learning curve for average users. During Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2026) keynote on Monday, Cecilia Dantas, senior manager of Home Software Product Marketing, acknowledged these difficulties. “While super powerful, the process of creating these shortcuts can feel, well, complicated,” Dantas noted.

By removing the requirement to manually search for and configure individual app actions or variables, the update aims to make automation—the process of creating workflows to perform repetitive tasks—accessible to a much broader, non-technical audience. Instead of navigating complex menus, users can simply describe what they want to achieve, and the system will pull together the required actions. Users can also make subsequent edits or changes to their workflows by describing them in natural language. The updated version of the Shortcuts app is scheduled to roll out alongside the release of iOS 27 later this fall.

Why it matters

The integration of AI makes the Shortcuts app more approachable for non-technical users. By eliminating the need to manually find specific app actions or variables, Apple is expanding who can build custom mobile automations.