Apple Eyes Third-Party AI Apps to Lift 8%-9% Services Growth as App Store Fees Face Pressure
Updated
Updated · TechCrunch · Nov 3
Apple Eyes Third-Party AI Apps to Lift 8%-9% Services Growth as App Store Fees Face Pressure
3 articles · Updated · TechCrunch · Nov 3
Summary
Apple told investors it sees revenue opportunities in third-party apps and partnerships as AI develops, hinting at a new services growth lever beyond its own software.
CFO Kevan Parekh gave no specifics, but investors are weighing whether Apple could distribute third-party AI agents through the App Store and take a share of their revenue.
That search comes as App Store growth has been hit by regulation and weaker mobile gaming; third-party estimates in August showed U.S. commission revenue down 18%, with declines also in Brazil and Japan.
Apple said App Store performance in the September quarter was similar to a year earlier, even as paid subscriptions hit a record and third-party app subscriptions grew at a double-digit rate.
For the December quarter, Apple forecast services growth of 8% to 9%, while warning of continued headwinds from third-party licensing, foreign exchange and ongoing App Store pressure.