
Apple’s App Store is now handling more than a thousand submissions every hour. It isn’t just indie developers flooding the pipeline—AI‑generated apps are arriving at an unprecedented pace. Tools that let anyone crank out a polished‑looking app in minutes are choking the review process.
9to5Mac hit the nail on the head with a real solution. Instead of tightening the review criteria, Apple should create a fresh distribution channel. Think of a revived “Airport” model: a TestFlight‑based alternative where apps go live instantly under a relaxed review, show up in a dedicated discovery tab, and are clearly marked as “unreviewed” or “experimental.” Users can opt in, developers can iterate quickly, and the main App Store stays curated.
Why this is a structural issue, not just a moderation snag: at a thousand submissions per hour, manual review simply can’t keep up. Even automated checks are being gamed by AI‑generated code that passes basic validation while delivering spammy or broken experiences. Raising the bar would only slow down quality apps while the junk keeps pouring in. The problem is on the supply side—AI makes app creation almost costless and instantaneous. You can’t solve that by policing alone.
In my view, Apple has two paths. It can keep drowning in AI‑driven noise, frustrating legitimate developers, or it can adopt a tiered system that separates polished, reviewed apps from the experimental, AI‑built long tail. The old Airport model worked for Mac shareware; it’s time for an iOS equivalent. Let creators ship fast, let users decide the risk they’re comfortable with, and give the main store room to breathe.
Source: 9to5mac.com/2026/06/13/app…
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