MacStories Tool Brings AI Shortcuts Generation to Users Now
*Federico Viticci has released Shortcuts Playground, a plugin that turns natural language requests into working Apple Shortcuts files today.*
The News
MacStories published Shortcuts Playground on GitHub. The tool connects to Claude Code or OpenAI Codex and produces .shortcut files from short text prompts. Users type a request, receive the file in Finder, and import it directly into the Shortcuts app.
How It Works
The plugin accepts a single sentence describing the desired automation. It then builds the shortcut step by step. When the model introduces an error, the same session can request fixes before the file is saved. Viticci supplied setup instructions and made the source code public for inspection.
Apple is expected to add a comparable natural-language shortcut builder in iOS 27. Shortcuts Playground therefore serves as an immediate alternative for anyone unwilling to wait for the next major iOS release.
Limitations
Viticci states that generated shortcuts carry no guarantee of correctness or reliability. Users must test each result. The tool requires an active subscription to either Claude Code or OpenAI Codex.
Why it matters
Power users gain an early way to experiment with AI-assisted automation on Apple platforms. The release also shows how third-party developers can ship practical AI features faster than Apple’s own release cycle allows. For teams that already rely on Shortcuts, the plugin lowers the barrier to building new automations without waiting for official support.
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Sources:
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