Inteligencia Artificial (IA)
AI Transforms Your Mobile into an App Factory: Impact on App Stores
Gianro Compagno
2026-03-11
5 min read
The development of applications, once reserved for a few experts, has undergone a radical transformation. While traditional developers still lead the creation of the best apps, the rise of vibe coding has democratized access to software, allowing anyone to create their own applications, even without programming knowledge. Artificial intelligence has been key in this change, revolutionizing the development environment and reminiscent of the creative explosion that occurred with the birth of app stores.
Despite the existence of AI-powered tools capable of generating complete applications, understanding code remains fundamental for quality programming. According to several professional developers, solutions like Codex and Opus have elevated productivity to unprecedented levels before the arrival of ChatGPT, facilitating error correction, efficient integration of new features, and speeding up the production process. AI has become a true engine of change.
Having an AI-based programming assistant provides a significant advantage: it anticipates the necessary code, corrects compilation errors, and enhances the developer's creativity. AI not only streamlines the process but also expands the possibilities for innovation.
For an app to succeed, it is essential to meet three key requirements. Many of us have dreamed of creating an application to solve a specific problem; previously, this was only possible for programmers, but now vibe coding tools have opened the door to a new generation of creators, which is already reflected in the growth of app stores.
While mastering code remains ideal, AI can compensate for many shortcomings, and the combination of both factors can lead to standout projects, such as FitWoody by Chubby Apps or Fruitwatch by José Saez Merino.
The ease of developing apps and the expansion of vibe coding have led to a notable increase in the number of available applications. According to data from It's time to build, the year-on-year growth in December 2025 was 60%, while App Figures reported a 24% increase in the App Store, highlighting the impact of vibe coding. However, this does not guarantee that all new apps are competitive in functionality or experience, although they do manage to reach the market.
AI has come to stay, although not everything is positive: it has also generated new risks, especially for companies that have bet everything on this technology. Today, a significant portion of the code on the Internet has been generated, at least in part, by AI, and this is just the beginning.
The circle closes: if AI previously generated the code for many mobile apps, it is now possible to create them directly from the phone. Nothing, for example, integrates generation tools into its devices, and OpenAI Codex is already available for iPhone, eliminating the dependency on a computer.
Platforms like Replit allow app development from an app, taking vibe coding to a new level. VibeCode and websites like Google's Opal offer the same ease from mobile, consolidating this advancement for both experienced developers and those looking to start in the software world.