Waiting on Apple AI? Launch ChatGPT with a Tap

 The iPhone 16’s Action Button, Now AI-Ready

I grabbed the iPhone 16 expecting to geek out over the upgraded camera and shiny screen. But surprise! The action button—the little hero replacing the old mute switch—is the real MVP. With a simple press, I can launch my favorite AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Pi, or Perplexity for instant conversations. The best part? Setting it up was ridiculously easy. Even better? My friends thought I’d uncovered the next big thing. Spoiler: It’s not that revolutionary, but it’s definitely a cool trick.

What Makes This Cool: AI in Your Pocket

Let’s rewind a year: AI chatbots weren’t this conversational, and while the iPhone 15 Pro had an action button, it didn’t feel like a game-changer. Fast forward to the iPhone 16, and now that button lets you summon a bot like ChatGPT for instant help, advice, or even just some company during your commute. One press, and you’re chatting away.

Why Only ChatGPT, Pi, and Perplexity?

Here’s the twist: when I set up the action button, only three of my AI apps—ChatGPT, Pi, and Perplexity—popped up as options. Why? Not all apps support Shortcuts right away. When an app does, iOS can ‘see’ it and offer up Shortcut suggestions based on built-in actions like launching a chat or starting voice mode. For these three, it was a breeze because they came Shortcut-ready. If you’ve got other AI apps installed, give it a try—maybe they’ll show up. Tech moves fast, and who knows what’ll be added next!

How to Set It Up: Easy as 1-2-3 (4-5)

So, you’re ready to give this a shot? Here’s how to set up your action button to launch ChatGPT, Pi, or Perplexity:

1. Head to Settings..
2. Tap Action Button.
3. Swipe through the options until you find ‘Shortcut.’ (I like the illustrations)
4. Tap the ‘list starter’ at bottom of the screen and search for ChatGPT (or Pi, or Perplexity).
5. Pick the action you want, like launching ChatGPT directly into voice mode.‘

That’s it! Now, one press and you’re chatting with your AI of choice

Apple’s Not There (Yet)—But You Are

Let’s face it: We’re all waiting for Apple to drop its own AI superpower. Siri’s trying, bless her, but she’s not quite there yet. Until Apple Intelligence arrives, pairing the iPhone 16’s action button with these AI bots gives you a sneak peek of the future—without the clunky conversations.

Button Meets AI—Cool, But Not Earth-Shattering

I’m not saying this is some revolutionary tech moment, but summoning an AI brain with one press? Pretty cool. It was fun to set up, and showing it off definitely earned me some geek points. The iPhone 16 is full of little surprises like this, and while we wait for Apple to bring their own AI into the mix, I’m happily launching ChatGPT, Pi, and Perplexity with a tap. Go on, give it a try—you might just enjoy it.