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Apple Cracks Down on AI App Builders
31 Mar
Summary
- Apple removed the Anything app for allegedly violating store guidelines.
- This marks an escalation in Apple's enforcement against AI coding apps.
- The app allowed users to generate apps without prior coding knowledge.
Apple has removed the "Anything" app from its App Store, alleging a violation of Guideline 2.5.2, which requires apps to be self-contained. The app previously advertised itself as the fastest way to build applications. This action is interpreted as a significant step up in Apple's enforcement against a category of AI-powered coding applications.
These "vibe coding" apps, like Anything, Replit, and Vibecode, theoretically enable users without coding expertise to generate apps with AI assistance. The process is designed to allow app creation, usage, and debugging directly on a user's phone. Dhruv Amin, Anything's CEO, stated that his app facilitated the creation of functional apps available on the App Store.
The core issue appears to stem from Guideline 2.5.2, which prohibits apps from executing code that changes their functionality or installs other apps. Apple's earlier actions against similar apps cited this rule. Amin indicated that an attempt to create a version that debugged apps in a browser was rejected before Anything's removal.
Interestingly, Apple's own Xcode tool recently introduced AI coding assistance features. Apple has explained its enforcement actions not as targeting specific app functions, but rather against apps whose behavior Apple cannot effectively moderate. Gizmodo did not immediately receive a comment from Apple regarding the removal.
