Manually transcribing and summarizing audio from meetings, lectures, or interviews can be a time-consuming process. With iOS 26, you can now automate this entire workflow directly on your iPhone or iPad. A new native Transcribe action in Shortcuts converts audio to text, and by combining it with Apple Intelligence, you can instantly generate summaries and key points from any audio file.
This release introduces a powerful new Transcribe action within the Shortcuts app, allowing you to convert audio files into text locally on your device. When combined with the Apple Intelligence Use Model action, you can build powerful workflows that not only transcribe audio but also summarize the content. The 'AI Transcribe and Summary' shortcut uses this combination to process audio files from the Files app or Share Sheet, then automatically creates a new, neatly formatted note with a title, a concise summary, key points, and the full transcript.
For longer audio files, such as hour-long podcasts or lectures, it's best to configure the Use Model action to use the ChatGPT extension. The on-device and Private Cloud Compute models may have character limits that can cause errors with very long transcripts. The ChatGPT integration is better suited for processing extensive text.
The ability to transcribe and summarize audio files with Shortcuts and Apple Intelligence is a game-changer for productivity. This feature streamlines the process of turning spoken content into actionable, easy-to-digest text. By automating this workflow, you can reclaim valuable time and focus on the insights from your audio recordings rather than the manual labor of processing them.