Recent reports have highlighted the potential abuse of Apple’s App Store, as some applications are flooding the digital world with ChatGPT tools. Apple’s App Store provides users with a well-vetted library of apps that have gone through reviews and checks, but due to the current influx of Artificial Intelligence chat apps, some people are finding ways to bypass the system.
Alex Kleber’s recent report on the “Dark Side of the Mac App Store” examined the issue of applications from a group of developers that falsely claim their programs provide ChatGPT-style services. These apps are identifiable by keywords such as “OpenAI” and “ChatGPT,” but they share core similarities and even use the OpenAI logo and colors, mistakenly giving users the impression of authenticity. However, these applications are fake and inefficient, thus eroding the trustworthiness of the App Store.
Kleber also noticed that apps from the same developer accounts and registered address in Pakistan have 99% of the same code but usually experienced slight modifications, giving the impression that the programs are not direct copies. Furthermore, the developers took advantage of unethical tactics such as not giving users a close button to their paywalls, putting them in an impossible situation of either subscribing or forcibly quitting the app.
Kleber advises Apple to have a more strict approach towards these scam apps, as many are passing through the App Reviews process unscathed, including one individual whose eight different accounts all got approved by the system.
Accordingly, scam apps can potentially take advantage of their high ranking to manipulate user reviews and promote an app that is inefficient and not worth the download. Apple should look into a system that ensures developers follow the App Store Guidelines and creates a sense of trust in the system overall.
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is an Artificial Intelligence research laboratory that works to develop technologies for life-changing applications, from healthcare and energy to security and transportation. It was started by tech titans Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, and its board of directors is made up of industry leaders such as PeteW and Reid Hoffman.
Alex Kleber is a technology journalist, focusing on the latest and greatest in the world of tech, science, and computing. With a master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence, he has become renowned for his investigative reports and in-depth exploration of tech trends, giving him a voice amongst journalists all over the world.
