Apple’s big developer conference, WWDC, is only weeks away. And a new report indicates that an announcement might be coming regarding Apple’s efforts to better incorporate AI agents into the App Store.
Apple is reportedly ‘designing a system’ for AI agents to adhere to App Store privacy and security standards
Aaron Tilley, writing at The Information:
Apple is exploring ways to better incorporate AI agents into its App Store so it can benefit from the tech industry’s hottest trend while ensuring that the software in its store continues to play by its rules, according to people briefed on the matter. […]
AI agents—which are capable of taking complex actions on behalf of users—present inherently thorny issues for Apple’s strict regulations on its app platforms, which are designed to prevent the apps from spreading malware, avoiding App Store fees and committing other misbehavior. For example, some agents can spin up smaller apps on the spot to perform a wide variety of tasks, which could be a problem if the agents do so after Apple has already approved the apps they live within.
Apple’s efforts to incorporate AI agents into the App Store aim to reconcile those inconsistencies. While details couldn’t be learned, its staffers are designing a system to adhere to its standards of privacy and security and prevent the more freewheeling behavior some users of agentic systems such as OpenClaw have experienced, where agents can go haywire and delete all of a user’s emails, according to the people briefed on the matter.
The report says that Apple might announce its new updates regarding AI agents on the App Store at WWDC next month. However, it’s possible that the company isn’t yet ready for that unveiling.
Apple CEO Tim Cook recently acknowledged the rise of AI agents when addressing Mac supply shortages during the last quarterly earnings. Many users are turning to the Mac mini and Mac Studio, Apple’s supply-constrained desktops, to help run AI agents.
Understandably, Apple doesn’t want its lucrative App Store business upended by the new agent trend.
But this isn’t just about protecting a revenue stream. If Apple can find a way to better support agents while providing key privacy and security guarantees through the App Store, that’s a win for users too.
What do you expect Apple to launch on the App Store related to AI agents? Let us know in the comments.
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