Here's how to program the iPhone 15 Pro Action Button to trigger ChatGPT and make you look smarter

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

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Tools and requirements
Quick steps
Step by step guide
FAQs
Final thoughts

Apple's decision to drop the ring/silent switch from the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max and replace it with a new Action Button is proving to be a windfall for enterprising owners of the best iPhones. The button can still function as its predecessor did, silencing the phone's audible alerts and ringtones but this button can also do so much more.

There is an easy-to-access menu of presets that includes programming the button to control the flashlight, voice recording, open the magnifier app, and serve as a camera app shutter button, and we've covered some of these features before. However, it's the introduction of Apple's Shortcuts app that takes the Action Button to the next level of choose-your-own-adventure utility.

Like the Action Button, Shortcuts can serve as a faster and more customizable way of accomplishing one or more tasks on your iPhone. And when you combine a custom Shortcut with the Action Button, it can be one-press magic.

Tools and requirements

iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max
Shortcuts app
ChatGPT app
ChatGPT Plus account for voice conversations
OpenAI account

Steps for how to program the iPhone 15 Pro Action Button to trigger ChatGPT queries

Install ChatGPT app
Open Shortcuts
Add new shortcut
Choose ChatGPT Action
Save Shortcut
Open Action Button Settings
Choose Shortcuts
Select the shortcut you just created

Step by step guide

Install ChatGPT

Open the App Store and install OpenAI's ChatGPT app. Follow the steps to register (it's free unless you want to run ChatGPT Plus, which is how you would access the ChatGPT Voice feature).

Create new Shortcut

If you don't already have Apple's Shortcut app installed. Download it from the App Store.

Next, open the app and choose the "+" sign next to "Select" in the upper right-hand corner. That will begin your shortcut creation journey.

Build a new Shortcut

In the New shortcut screen, choose the "New Shortcut 1" label and from the dropdown select "Rename".

Choose a pithy and memorable name that includes the name of the app that's getting the shortcut. In our case, it's ChatGPT, so we named the Shortcut "ChatGPT Answerbot".

Add an action to the Shortcut

Select the large "Add Action" button.

Find the ChatGPT app

Select the "Apps" tab

Select the ChatGPT action

In this "ChatGPT" shortcut screen, choose "Ask ChatGPT"

If you are a ChatGPT Plus subscriber, choose "Start voice conversation with ChatGPT"

Close Shortcuts app

Select "Done" in the upper right-hand corner and close Shortcuts.

Open Action Button settings

Select the "Search" button on your iPhone home screen and then type in "Action Button". Select the "Action Button" Settings option that appears.

Select Shortcut option

In the Action Button settings menu, swipe left or right to find the Shortcut option and then select the blue button that says "Choose a Shortcut..."

Select ChatGPT shortcut

The ChatGPT shortcut you created will be listed in the "My Shortcuts" section. Select it.

Long-press Action Button

You'll automatically be returned to the Action Button Settings menu where your new Shortcut will be listed under "Shortcut".

Now when you press and hold the Action Button it will automatically launch the ChatGPT app, straight to the query box.

ChatGPT Plus subscribers who created a Voice Conversation shortcut will automatically open to the app waiting for you to speak your query.

FAQs

Will the Action Button go directly to ChatGPT voice if I am a Plus member?

The free version of ChatGPT, which uses an older and less powerful LLM, does not include voice. So, even if you set up the Voice Shortcut, it will only open ChatGPT's text interface.

If you do haveChatGPT Plus and the more powerful GPT-4, set up the Voice Conversation shortcut, and assign it to the Action Button. Pressing and holding the button will open up ChatGPT in listening mode. You will hear a voice and it will be listening for your query.

Final thoughts

As we mentioned above, you can use most of these steps to add Action Button shortcuts for a wide variety of apps. Basically, instead of choosing ChatGPT, you might choose the weightlifting app Lift'n', or the linksave app GoodLinks. Yes, the idea of a single button press to order an expensive cup of Starbucks coffee does hold some appeal but we prefer, for now, to gain quicker access to the world of artificial intelligence.

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A 38-year industry veteran and award-winning journalist, Lance has covered technology since PCs were the size of suitcases and “on line” meant “waiting.” He’s a former Lifewire Editor-in-Chief, Mashable Editor-in-Chief, and, before that, Editor in Chief of PCMag.com and Senior Vice President of Content for Ziff Davis, Inc. He also wrote a popular, weekly tech column for Medium called The Upgrade.

Lance Ulanoff makes frequent appearances on national, international, and local news programs including Live with Kelly and Mark, the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNBC, CNN, and the BBC.