Long-time 9to5Mac readers will remember that the native Shortcuts app started as an indie project called Workflow, a clever, approachable tool that made automation fun and accessible to less technical users.
Today, Shortcuts remains a powerful utility, particularly on the Mac. However, compared to how agentic AI tools have reshaped how we think about automation, it’s feeling a bit stagnant. That may be about to change.
As reported by Mark Gurman in today’s Power On newsletter, Apple is preparing a significant overhaul of its Shortcuts app, integrating AI capabilities through its Apple Intelligence initiative:
“A revamped version of its Shortcuts app, which today lets users create actions such as launching certain features within apps or playing a particular playlist. The new version will let consumers create those actions using Apple Intelligence models. (This had long been planned for 2025, but delays may push it to 2026.)”
In other words, an AI-based Shortcuts app might allow more natural language interactions, further lowering the barrier for automation-curious users who might find the current interface a bit challenging to navigate.
This move aligns with broader industry trends where AI is increasingly integrated into system-level functionalities. Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs, for instance, feature an AI agent capable of performing actions and daisy-chaining system adjustments based on user requests through natural language commands.
Imagine combining this capability with AI-generated automations triggered by simple voice or text prompts, such as: “When I start a Zoom, Teams, Meet, or FaceTime call, activate Do Not Disturb, dim the screen, and open Notes. During the meeting, capture participant names, job titles, and key discussion points. After the call, draft an email summarizing the meeting and outlining each person’s action items.”
This might be trivial for you, but it sure isn’t for most users. And having this sort of stuff one voice command away could be really powerful.
I’ll say it again: MCP
And then there’s Anthropic’s MCP, an open standard designed to facilitate seamless integration between AI assistants and external data sources and tools. Against all odds, it has been adopted by major players, including Google and OpenAI (who also offer their own solutions), in a rare case of cross-industry collaboration.
While it’s uncertain whether Apple will ever embrace MCP, its adoption would absolutely benefit users by enabling automation even further, beyond just system settings and limited local app control.
Given Gurman’s report that this AI-powered Shortcuts feature, initially planned for 2025, might be delayed to 2026, it’s unlikely we’ll see it showcased at the June 9 WWDC keynote.
Still, it’s a relief to know that Apple has been paying attention to this aspect of agentic AI. Whether it will deliver on its promise remains to be seen.
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