Apple Signals It May Monetize Third-Party AI Apps As App Store Revenue Faces Pressure

Apple hinted Monday that it could seek new revenue by leaning on artificial intelligence offered through apps from outside developers, though the company gave no concrete plan for how that would work. The comments from the firm’s finance chief came as the App Store contends with regulatory shifts and a softening in mobile game spending that have weighed on its services division.

Chief Financial Officer Kevan Parekh told investors that AI could encourage customers to buy newer devices and that there are potential openings both for Apple-made features and for partnerships with outside app makers. He didn’t outline specific mechanisms. Still, investors and analysts have begun to speculate that Apple might distribute AI-powered agents via the App Store and take a share of the money those services generate, according to reporting by Reuters.

The backdrop is a tightening regulatory environment that has already eaten into App Store commissions in some countries. Independent estimates published in August put U.S. commission revenue down by almost one-fifth, and similar declines showed up in markets such as Brazil and Japan after new local rules took effect. Legal battles have also forced Apple to loosen its grip on in-app payments; the high-profile case with Epic Games ultimately compelled the company to permit apps to steer users to external payment options, and other rulings around the world have added pressure.

On the quarterly call, Parekh said App Store activity in the September quarter was roughly on par with the prior year, even as paid subscriptions reached a record and third-party apps posted growth in the two-figure range. He noted continuing headwinds in mobile gaming and set an outlook for services growth in the December period of roughly between one-twelfth and one-eleventh — a forecast that already factors in expected sequential impacts from third-party licensing and an extra one-half of one percent from currency swings.

If Apple does move to commercialize third-party AI agents, the practical effects would be felt by both consumers and developers. Users could see more subscription-style AI features sold through the App Store, while developers might face new revenue-sharing rules or alternative distribution options. Industry observers say such a pivot could help offset lost fees from other areas, but it would likely invite fresh regulatory scrutiny and complicated negotiations with app makers.

TechCrunch has asked Apple for clarification on any plans to sell or take a cut of third-party AI agents and will publish any response. For now, the company’s remarks have left investors hunting for specifics as they weigh how much of the services business can be rebuilt around AI-driven offerings.