Application production increased with artificial intelligence, review times increased

Apple’s App Store review process is facing new pressure with the proliferation of AI-powered software production tools. In particular, the recent acceleration of the approach called “vibe coding”, which allows users to develop applications without having technical knowledge, has noticeably increased the application density on the platform. This causes review times to extend for both independent developers and large technology companies. Although this new form of production democratizes software development, it seems that existing control mechanisms cannot adapt at the same speed.

With the introduction of more advanced artificial intelligence models towards the end of last year, an era began in which users could create functional applications with only text commands. These tools have largely automated software development processes, making it possible for even people without technical knowledge to produce applications. In addition, experienced developers also increased production speed by using these tools. Despite this, the resulting density began to push the limits of the App Store’s current human-oriented review structure.

Why is the App Store review process slowing down?

Apple has been reviewing every application and update sent to the App Store for a long time through human reviewers. This approach provides a significant advantage in terms of maintaining safety and quality standards. However, today’s rapid increase in the number of application submissions raises questions about the scalability of this system. It is stated that the review processes, which previously took one or two days, have now increased to more than three days and in some cases up to a week. This means a serious waste of time, especially for developers who release frequent updates.

On the other hand, not only individual developers but also large companies face similar problems. Social media platforms and major application developers state that user experience is negatively affected due to delays in update processes. Despite this, it is known that Apple is cautious about switching to a fully automatic review system. It is understood from the statements of former managers that the company has advocated an approach that prioritizes human control in the past.

However, the current situation brings some intermediate solutions to the agenda. Suggestions such as human supervision only being valid for new applications and updates being checked with automatic systems stand out. In addition, creating a separate review queue for developers who have been on the platform for a long time is among the options discussed. Apple currently offers an expedited review request option; However, this system is designed more for critical errors and time-sensitive updates.

In addition to all this, artificial intelligence-supported software production is expected to become more widespread in the coming period. This situation may bring similar difficulties not only for the App Store but also for other application stores such as Google Play. Despite this, how platforms will strike a balance without compromising security and quality standards remains an important topic of debate. The current picture indicates that even if human control does not disappear completely, its restructuring in certain areas may be inevitable.