At the close of its WWDC 2025 keynote, Apple celebrated app developers with a lighthearted musical tribute, featuring singer Allen Stone performing a song based on positive App Store reviews.
However, Apple did not address the recent challenges faced by its developer community, including ongoing legal battles over App Store policies and unmet expectations for AI advancements.
Apple has delayed its AI-enhanced Siri, originally showcased at last year’s WWDC, briefly acknowledging the postponement by stating the technology needed more development to meet quality standards.
The event highlighted some AI features, such as AI-powered translation in Apple Music and integration of ChatGPT in the Image Playground app and Xcode, but these offerings lag behind comparable AI capabilities already available on Android platforms.
Despite rumors, no new partnerships with AI providers like Google or Anthropic were announced. Apple also introduced AI enhancements to its Shortcuts app, though these appeared as interim solutions pending more robust AI integration.
Notably absent was any discussion of App Store commission fees, which remain controversial following Apple’s recent legal loss allowing developers in the U.S. to direct users to alternative payment methods outside of Apple’s system.
Apple launched a standalone Games app focusing on consumer features rather than developer benefits. It also refrained from announcing any commission rate reductions or substantial improvements to payment processing that might support developers’ businesses.
Subtle changes were made to the App Review Guidelines, replacing “alternative app marketplace” with “alternative distribution,” reinforcing Apple’s stance on App Store exclusivity.
Initial iOS 26 developer beta shifts the App Store’s default landing page to Search, encouraging developers to invest more in paid search ads for app discovery.
Apple also previewed a new interface design called Liquid Glass, inspired by its Vision Pro VR headset, yet offered little guidance on how developers should adapt their apps to the new aesthetic or the future platforms it may signal.
While the event ended on a positive note with a musical homage to developers, the overall message felt more like a performance than a genuine acknowledgment of developer concerns. Apple’s focus remains on consumer experience and revenue growth amid industry pressures and technological delays.