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Apple is working on a new system that will allow AI agents and AI coding tools to be approved for the App Store in the future – without compromising existing security and privacy standards. According to a report by The Information, the company is preparing a response to one of the hottest trends in the software industry. A first hint of this could come as early as WWDC 2026.
AI agents have become one of the fastest-growing app categories in recent months. They can independently handle complex tasks, control apps, and in some cases even create small applications on the fly - functions that directly conflict with Apple's existing App Store rules. How to resolve this tension is apparently already a major internal issue for Apple. The company is feeling the pressure on several fronts simultaneously: Apple is relying on custom models from Google for the Siri overhaul in iOS 27, and the App Store is already seeing a significant increase in AI-driven submissions.
What the report specifically describes
Aaron Tilley has described in detail for The Information how Apple is internally developing a new framework. The company is designing a system that, on the one hand, aims to maintain existing privacy and security standards, while on the other hand creating the necessary scope for agent-like functions. Details of the specific technical implementation are not yet known. Only the general direction is clear: Apple doesn't want to be left behind by the AI boom, but also doesn't want to lose control over its own platform.
At its core, the challenge is to solve three problems simultaneously. First, AI agents must not spread malware or circumvent security mechanisms. Second, they must adhere to Apple's billing logic and not evade App Store fees. Third, the behavior of autonomous agents - such as spontaneously creating small apps within other apps - must not become a security vulnerability after Apple has already approved the respective main application.
Vibe coding as a trigger
The immediate trigger was the so-called Vibe coding apps. These allow users without traditional programming knowledge to create their own apps and websites using a natural language prompt. In March, Apple began blocking updates for several popular apps of this type because they violated App Store rules – specifically, the prohibition against executing code that modifies the functionality of the app itself or other apps.
Traditional approval processes simply cannot capture this dynamic app behavior. AI agents exhibit the same characteristics and thus encounter a rule architecture designed for statically delivered software. Apple must therefore not only decide on individual cases but fundamentally expand the App Store framework.
Siri, Apple Intelligence, and the dispute over commissions
Alongside the App Store overhaul, Apple is also pushing ahead with the opening up of Siri and Apple Intelligence. The Information reports that Apple is specifically contacting developers to integrate app functions such as flight bookings or calendar invitations directly into the new Siri generation. The new Siri generation in iOS 27 is expected not only to become smarter, but also to catch up with Claude and ChatGPT in terms of agent-like capabilities.
The reaction from some developers, however, has been muted. The underlying concern is that Apple will use the Siri integration to find new ways to siphon off commissions. Apple itself has apparently signaled its intention to waive fees in the early stages – but hasn't ruled them out for the future. Talks with Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent about Siri integration are said to hinge precisely on this point: the Chinese companies don't want to enter a structure that could later introduce fees. Anyone who has followed the previous practice with App Store subscriptions knows the pattern: Apple typically only implements monetization mechanisms once an ecosystem is established.
Additionally, Apple plans to allow users to freely choose their Siri chatbot – instead of being limited to a single AI model. This would represent a significant break with the current logic of closed, standard apps and a clear indication that Apple cannot win the AI market solely through its own proprietary models.
What WWDC 2026 could bring
WWDC 2026 starts on June 8th. From a timing perspective, this would be the obvious opportunity to introduce a new agent concept for the App Store. Whether Apple will present the complete technical framework or merely outline initial key points remains to be seen. A hybrid approach is more realistic: a general strategy announcement followed by concrete developer APIs in the beta phases over the summer.
What is clear is that with this announcement, Apple would have to address a need for improvement in an area where other platforms have long been more broadly positioned. Both Android and native models from OpenAI and Anthropic already allow agent behavior that would be difficult to replicate on iOS in this way.
Apple between openness and control
From my perspective, this step is long overdue – and precisely the kind of response I expect from Apple. The company isn't opening up on principle, but out of pragmatic realism: AI agents are here to stay, and an App Store that ignores this reality would lose developers to other ecosystems. Instead of chasing the trend, Apple is apparently building a framework that consistently transfers its own security and privacy principles to this new world.
That's the crucial point. Other platforms currently allow AI agents to operate largely unchecked – including all the risks of faulty or malicious behavior. Apple's controlled approach may be slower, but in the long run, it's the only way to deliver agent-based functionality to the masses in a trustworthy manner. That's precisely why the App Store has existed in its current form since 2008, and that's precisely what continues to make it attractive to users.
A new generation of app stores is approaching
Apple is facing one of the biggest overhauls of its App Store architecture since its launch. AI agents are forcing the company to rethink fundamental assumptions about app behavior, approval processes, and platform control. If WWDC does indeed provide initial answers, it won't just be a technical detail, but a strategic signal about how Apple positions the next generation of software. (Image: Shutterstock / Summit Art Creations)
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