App Store Submissions Surge 84 Percent as AI Coding Tools Expand Developer Base

New iOS app submissions to Apple's App Store have increased by 84 percent in recent weeks, a rise driven in part by non-technical users creating applications through AI-powered coding tools. The increase highlights both the accessibility gains and emerging tensions surrounding code generation platforms. Apple has processed roughly 200,000 app submissions weekly while maintaining an average review time of 1.5 days over the past 12 weeks. The company says 90 percent of submissions clear review within 48 hours. However, the surge has prompted scrutiny from Apple's review team. The company has blocked or removed several AI-generated apps, citing violations of App Review Guideline 2.5.2, which restricts apps from downloading executable code that modifies functionality. The AI app builder Anything has been removed and restored multiple times this month, according to reports. Apple has also restricted Replit's mobile app, which offers AI coding capabilities. The trend, sometimes called 'vibe coding,' allows users to generate functional applications through natural language prompts to large language models. Anthropic's Claude Code and Cursor are among the tools enabling this workflow. Apple maintains that its restrictions protect users from malware, privacy violations, and unauthorized data access. The company says it supports developers using AI tools but requires compliance with existing guidelines regardless of how code is produced.