Apple Intelligence can now build Shortcuts with “Describe a Shortcut” feature

Apple is making the Shortcuts app easier to use with a new Apple Intelligence feature that can create automations from a simple text description.

Called Describe a Shortcut, the feature allows users to explain what they want to happen in plain language, with Apple Intelligence automatically building the required shortcut and actions behind the scenes. Rather than manually searching for actions and linking them together, users can simply describe the task they want to automate.

Apple says the feature can create complex workflows that would have previously required a detailed understanding of how the Shortcuts app works. For example, users could create a shortcut that sets an alarm based on the first event in their calendar the next day, launches a set of productivity apps when connecting an iPad to a Magic Keyboard, or turns on smart home accessories when a food delivery is approaching.

The feature doesn’t stop once a shortcut has been created. Users can continue refining their automation by describing additional changes in natural language. Apple Intelligence will then update the shortcut accordingly, removing the need to manually edit individual actions and settings.

Shortcuts has long been one of the most powerful apps on Apple’s platforms, but it has often been viewed as intimidating by casual users due to the complexity involved in building advanced automations. By allowing users to create shortcuts simply by describing what they want, Apple is lowering the barrier to entry and making automation more accessible to a wider audience.

Describe a Shortcut will be available later this year as part of Apple’s next generation of Apple Intelligence features in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and other supported platforms.