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These App Store hidden gems prove there’s still room for great software in the AI era
TechCrunch has published its latest round-up of "hidden gem" apps on the App Store, arguing that despite predictions AI agents will replace app usage, indie and creative apps are thriving. The piece notes that new app launches are up 60% year-on-year globally and 80% on iOS alone, partly driven by AI-assisted coding making it easier for novices to build and ship software, though this has also raised concerns about lower-quality "vibe-coded" clutter.
Among the featured apps are Albo, a bookmarking tool from London studio The Feel Good Project that saves and categorises posts shared from social platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest even if the original content is later deleted, and Coop, a neighbourhood marketplace app letting users buy homemade or homegrown goods from nearby sellers, launched partly in response to concerns about food provenance following a recent US parasite outbreak.
– App Store activity is booming, with AI coding tools helping more people build apps – Albo lets users save and organise social media posts and inspiration for later – Coop connects buyers with local sellers of homemade and homegrown produce
Explained simply
Concerns have long circulated that artificial intelligence agents will eventually replace the need for traditional apps on smartphones and computers. However, the app market is instead experiencing rapid expansion, with new software launches increasing by 60 per cent year-on-year globally and 80 per cent specifically on Apple's iOS platform. Much of this growth is being driven by AI-assisted coding tools that make it easier for less experienced developers to build and release software.
This expansion has created a mixed picture in the app market. Whilst AI coding tools have lowered barriers to entry and allowed more people to develop apps, they have also raised questions about the quality of newly created applications. Alongside this, many apps addressing specific user needs and interests continue to thrive, showing that well-designed software solving particular problems remains in strong demand.
The ongoing growth of the app market challenges earlier predictions that they would be supplanted by AI agents. Instead, it demonstrates that app development is evolving alongside technological advances, with developers using new tools to create solutions for niche audiences and specific needs.
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