149: Simon Says Automate

This podcast episode brings on guest Simon Stovering, a developer known for his automation apps. Simon discusses the challenges and benefits of being an indie app developer and emphasizes the importance of supporting automation in app development. The episode dives into the considerations for creating Shortcuts actions and explores the impact of Shortcuts becoming a universal automation tool across Apple devices. The hosts also speculate on the future of Apple Shortcuts and its potential integration with AI. They discuss the challenges and potential of integrating AI with shortcuts, as well as the challenges and considerations for developers when adding automation options to coding environments. The episode concludes by exploring the difference between apps that contain data and apps that are access to data, and discussing the potential of AI-powered tools in language assistance. The speakers address the challenges and benefits of developing AI-based text-related apps and highlight the importance of using AI ethically.