Apple App Store swamped by AI‑generated apps via Vibe Coding

AI‑assisted coding tools such as OpenAI’s Codex and Anthropic’s Claude Code are enabling developers with little programming experience to create and submit iOS applications. This “Vibe Coding” approach has accelerated the growth of Apple’s App Store, with Sensor Tower reporting roughly 600,000 new apps released in 2025 – a 30 % rise over the previous year – and about 560,000 additional apps in the first half of 2026, roughly double the volume of the same period a year earlier.

Despite the surge in supply, user downloads have risen only modestly, increasing 3 % to 35.4 billion in 2025 and 2 % to 17.6 billion in the first half of 2026. Apple’s review process is under pressure; while 90 % of submissions are still processed within 48 hours, developers report longer wait times. The influx of quickly built apps makes it harder for users to locate high‑quality offerings, and many new apps rely on advertising revenue rather than strong user adoption.