Apple's Shortcuts has just gotten a whole lot better, thanks to the integration of Apple Intelligence. For those who may have missed this update in macOS 26, let me break it down for you.
With this new upgrade, users can now leverage AI-powered features within Shortcuts. This means that automating tasks can be streamlined, saving time and effort for everyday users. I've taken advantage of this feature myself by setting up custom shortcuts to automate repetitive tasks such as adding journal entries with weather forecasts, quotes, and structured content.
The key to unlocking these new capabilities lies in the "Use Model" action within Shortcuts. This allows users to input a prompt, which can then manipulate text in various ways. For instance, I created a shortcut that grabbed the current text from my clipboard, added details extracted from an event invitation, and then created a new event in my calendar.
While these shortcuts may require some fine-tuning, they're already proven themselves to be effective time-savers. The beauty of Shortcuts lies in its ability to empower users to create custom automations tailored to their specific needs.
In the long run, this is what sets Apple Shortcuts apart from other AI-powered tools – it puts the power firmly into the user's hands. By building on existing apps and tools, rather than relying solely on chatbots or other external services, we can tap into a much more flexible and personalized experience. This is where I believe the future of AI will truly take off: by empowering users to build their own solutions, rather than just consuming pre-made ones.
With this new upgrade, users can now leverage AI-powered features within Shortcuts. This means that automating tasks can be streamlined, saving time and effort for everyday users. I've taken advantage of this feature myself by setting up custom shortcuts to automate repetitive tasks such as adding journal entries with weather forecasts, quotes, and structured content.
The key to unlocking these new capabilities lies in the "Use Model" action within Shortcuts. This allows users to input a prompt, which can then manipulate text in various ways. For instance, I created a shortcut that grabbed the current text from my clipboard, added details extracted from an event invitation, and then created a new event in my calendar.
While these shortcuts may require some fine-tuning, they're already proven themselves to be effective time-savers. The beauty of Shortcuts lies in its ability to empower users to create custom automations tailored to their specific needs.
In the long run, this is what sets Apple Shortcuts apart from other AI-powered tools – it puts the power firmly into the user's hands. By building on existing apps and tools, rather than relying solely on chatbots or other external services, we can tap into a much more flexible and personalized experience. This is where I believe the future of AI will truly take off: by empowering users to build their own solutions, rather than just consuming pre-made ones.