Apple's AI Shortcuts lets you vibe-code your iPhone with natural language
Natural language commands create shortcuts instantly—when they work.
Apple’s WWDC 2026 keynote mostly played catch-up on AI, but its most innovative idea is hiding in the Shortcuts app. By typing a natural language description, users can now create automations without wrestling with complex scripting. For example, 'Send a text to Anna with three kissy emojis' instantly built a working shortcut. This 'vibe coding' approach lets AI figure out the steps, making Shortcuts accessible to non-developers. However, the first developer beta is riddled with failures—more complex requests like 'turn on Do Not Disturb when opening Kindle' don't work, and third-party app integration requires developer updates.
Despite the bugs, the philosophy stands out. Instead of flashy chatbots or image generators, Apple is leveraging its unique access to device data (location, app logins, etc.) to let users simply describe how they want their phone to behave. If Apple can refine the execution, this could become a killer feature—democratizing automation for millions of iPhone users. The article by David Pierce on The Verge suggests this is Apple’s most promising AI effort, far more practical than Siri’s incremental updates or Image Playground's gimmicks.
- Apple’s Shortcuts app now accepts natural language commands to create automations, akin to 'vibe coding'.
- The feature is buggy in beta—simple tasks work, but complex or third-party requests often fail.
- Apple’s deep access to device data (location, app logins) could make these shortcuts vastly more powerful than competitors’.
Why It Matters
If polished, this could make smartphone automation effortless for everyone, not just power users.