What is App Intents?
App Intents is a new framework introduced by Apple that supports developers in integrating Siri and Apple Intelligence on platforms such as iOS and macOS, enabling seamless integration of app functionality with system experiences (such as Siri, Spotlight search, and Shortcuts). App Intents is based on defining app intents, entities, and options, allowing users to directly control apps with Siri, search app content, create automation actions, and enhance the intelligence and convenience of apps.
Main features of App Intents
- Control apps directly through Siri: Users give commands directly to Siri, such as "find my flight" or "add a to-do item," and Siri interacts directly with the app to perform the task.
- App content appears in Spotlight search: Users can directly search for content in apps through Spotlight search and quickly access it without opening the app.
- Supports Shortcuts and automation: Users can create and use shortcuts to automatically perform specific app actions, improving efficiency.
- Trigger actions through hardware buttons: Supports quickly launching specific app functions based on the physical buttons of iPhone or Apple Watch, such as opening the camera or starting fitness tracking with one button.
Technical principles of App Intents
- Intent Definition: Developers use specific frameworks (such as
INIntent) to define the intents that an app responds to. Intents are high-level abstractions of app functions, such as payment, booking, messaging, etc. - Intent Extension: To handle intents, developers create an Intent Extension, a special app extension used to handle and respond to intent requests sent by Siri.
- Parameters and user input: Intents contain parameters, and parameters define the input required to execute the intent. For example, an intent to send a message may require the recipient's name and the message content.
- Dialog management: For intents with multi-step interactions, App Intents provides dialog management functionality, supporting apps in guiding users through operations based on dialog steps.
- Response handling: The Intent Extension is responsible for handling user requests, performing the corresponding operations, and returning results.
App Intents project address
- Project official website：developer.apple.com/documentation/appintents
Application scenarios of App Intents
- Voice-controlled email client: Users give commands directly to the email client with Siri, such as: "Hey Siri, read my unread emails." Siri will open the email app and read the latest unread emails aloud.
- Smart home control: Users use Siri to control smart devices at home, for example: "Hey Siri, turn on the living room light." Siri will integrate with the smart home system and perform the corresponding operation.
- Quick note-taking: Users quickly take notes with Siri, such as: "Hey Siri, note down my idea: 'Need to prepare a PPT for tomorrow's meeting.'" Siri will save this note to the note-taking app specified by the user.
- Schedule management: Users quickly add or modify schedules with Siri, for example: "Hey Siri, schedule a meeting at 2 PM tomorrow." Siri will interact with the user's calendar app to create a new calendar event.
- Health tracking: The user uses Siri to start health tracking, such as: "Hey Siri, start my running workout." Siri will communicate with the health tracking app to record the user's workout data.