The shortcut application has chatbot -type intelligence powers in iOS 26

Apple Intelligence does not (yet) offer an official chatbot mode, but in iOS 26, Apple will allow Power users to acquire a chatbot style experience via the shortcut application. Here’s how it works.

The new shortcut feature gives you Apple Intelligence Chatbot type responses

IOS 26 has a new feature in the shortcut application that allows you to draw directly from Apple Intelligence’s LLM with any personalized query.

A surprise advantage of this functionality, as pointed out by Appleinsideris that the shortcut responses sound a lot as if you interact with an appropriate chatbot.

When creating a shortcut in iOS 26, iPados 26 or MacOS Tahoe, the shortcut application has a new Apple Intelligence action: “Use the model”.

This action offers three LLM options:

You can choose the model to be questioned, and there is also a tracking parameter that you can activate, which gives you the opportunity to ask follow -up questions.

I have only tested the functionality a little so far, but I was impressed by its usefulness.

First of all, Apple Intelligence’s responses are written in a chatbot style, similar to what you will find when using chatgpt or a similar AI tool.

Second, it is also very easy to configure the tool and start.

Here’s hows I’ve used it so far.

Use of Apple intelligence within shortcuts in iOS 26

I created a basic shortcut with a text action where I add my request, then the action “use the model”. But you can also integrate more complex actions if necessary.

When creating the shortcut, I asked Apple Intelligence to find good cafes to work in Manhattan.

He offered a variety of recommendations, with explanations on the reasons why they are worth checking.

I then asked a follow -up question on which recommended spots offered special seasonal drinks and I obtained a solid answer.

When I asked Siri the same questions, he simply sanded a chatgpt.

But the shortcut application, using Apple Intelligence’s Cloud model, worked very well.

Apple Intelligence inside the shortcuts will replace your current chatbot of choice? Almost certainly not. From what I can say, there are a variety of limitations – both in knowledge and the interface – which prevent this from being a suitable full -time chatbot.

But it is nevertheless a fun addition, offering the first chatbot style experience that Apple Intelligence’s internal models have offered to date.

Have you tried to use the IOS 26 shortcut application to get an Apple Intelligence chatbot type experience? Let us know how it works for you via the comments.

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