Google and Apple launch AI-powered DIY automation for smartwatches
Describe a widget or shortcut, and AI builds it for you instantly.
Both Google and Apple have unveiled new features that make smartwatch personalization effortless. Google's Create My Widget, arriving with Wear OS 7, uses Gemini Intelligence to turn a simple description (e.g., 'show my gym barcode when I arrive') into a live widget on your watch. The update also improves battery life by 10%, adds live updates from phone apps, and enhances multi-device support for upcoming eyewear and headphones. Apple's Describe a Shortcut, coming in iOS 27, lets users describe an automation (like 'open my gym app when I arrive at the station') and its AI—alongside a revamped Siri—handles the configuration. Both companies are leaning into 'vibecoding' and agentic AI to reduce the friction of repetitive daily tasks.
The impact is practical: users no longer need to manually connect 'when' triggers with 'do' actions. A commuter can set up a subway arrival widget or a coffee order shortcut with a single line of text. The article's author notes that creating a gym automation previously required multiple steps in the Shortcuts app; now it's as easy as talking to your device. This shift marks a broader trend toward DIY automation where AI does the heavy lifting, making smartwatches more autonomous and intuitive for everyday professionals.
- Google's Create My Widget on Wear OS 7 uses Gemini to build widgets from natural language descriptions.
- Apple's Describe a Shortcut in iOS 27 lets users create automations by speaking, with AI handling the setup.
- Wear OS 7 offers 10% longer battery life and live data syncing from phone to watch.
Why It Matters
Automation becomes trivial – describe a task and your watch handles it, saving professionals time daily.