Apple continues to develop a new feature for its Shortcuts app that will allow users to create custom actions powered by Apple Intelligence models, according to backend code discovered by Nicolás Alvarez and confirmed by MacRumors.
The feature would expand the capabilities of the Shortcuts app by letting users generate new, personalized automations using Apple’s on-device and cloud-based AI systems, rather than relying only on prebuilt actions.
This suggests Apple is working toward a more flexible, AI-driven automation system, where users can describe what they want to do in natural language and have Apple Intelligence translate that into functional shortcut actions.
For those unfamiliar with it, the Shortcuts app allows users to build custom workflows—called shortcuts—that automate tasks or reduce the number of steps needed to complete them. These actions can range from sending messages and organizing files to controlling smart home devices. The app originally evolved from Apple’s 2017 acquisition of Workflow, which was rebranded as Shortcuts the following year.
With iOS 26, Apple added Apple Intelligence integration to Shortcuts, enabling AI models to be used within automations. However, the next evolution of the feature appears to go further: Apple is reportedly working on a version that lets users create shortcuts using Apple Intelligence itself. Instead of manually assembling steps, users could describe what they want in natural language—or potentially via voice—and have the system generate the automation automatically.
This shift would make Shortcuts significantly more accessible, opening it up to users who may not be familiar with building complex workflows but still want powerful automation features.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has been developing this AI-powered shortcut creation tool with a possible target release around 2025, though delays could push it into 2026. The feature is also expected to tie closely into iOS 27, where Apple is rumored to be introducing a major Siri overhaul that behaves more like a conversational chatbot and can interact directly with apps—potentially making it a core part of the shortcut-generation experience.