Predictions that “AI will kill apps” have been proven wrong, as global app launches have surged to record levels. A new analysis by Appfigures reveals that in the first quarter of 2026, new app launches increased by 60 percent across both Apple App Store and Google Play. For the iOS App Store alone, the increase was even higher at 80 percent.
Data from April shows that new app launches rose by 104 percent across both platforms and by 89 percent on iOS. Greg Joswiak, Senior Vice President of Apple, remarked, “Rumors of the App Store’s death in the AI era are greatly exaggerated.”
Experts believe that this surge in launches is largely driven by AI-assisted tools. Tools such as Claude Code and Replit have made app development accessible even to individuals with limited technical knowledge, enabling them to turn their ideas into reality.
While games still dominate among newly launched apps, categories such as productivity, utilities, and lifestyle have seen significant growth. Health and fitness apps have also entered the top five categories.
However, this flood of new apps has also increased the risk of fraud. Recently, Apple removed the reward app Freecash along with a fraudulent cryptocurrency app. Apple reported that in 2024, it removed more than 17,000 “bait-and-switch” apps, rejected over 320,000 spam or fraudulent app submissions, and prevented more than 37,000 deceptive apps from reaching users.
Popular Apple blogger John Gruber has long argued for the creation of a “banquo squad” (anti-fraud unit) within the App Store to monitor high-earning or widely used fraudulent apps. As the wave of AI-assisted app development continues, the need for such protective measures is expected to grow further.
DBTech/BMT/OR
