The Apple App Store has its fair share of issues, but for the most part, it works efficiently. However, one major frustration continues to linger—the reviews section.
Apple prominently displays a handful of reviews on each app’s page, but more often than not, they’re outdated. It’s not uncommon to see highlighted complaints about issues that have long been resolved, making the reviews section less reliable. When users base their initial impressions on obsolete information, it diminishes the value of app ratings and misrepresents an app’s current state.
The Problem With App Store Reviews
If you dig into an app’s reviews, Apple typically sorts them by “most helpful.” But how useful is a review from five years ago if it no longer reflects the app’s current experience?
Browsing for apps on my Mac, I frequently come across irrelevant reviews marked as the most helpful assessments of an app or game. More often than not, these outdated reviews create confusion rather than providing useful insights.
A Possible Solution: AI-Powered Summaries
Apple may finally have a fix in the works—artificial intelligence (AI)-generated summaries. According to Macworld, Apple is testing this feature in iOS 18.4 beta 2, currently available to developers. While it’s unclear whether macOS will receive the same update, iPhone users in the U.S. are already seeing AI-generated summaries on select app and game pages.
This feature leverages Apple Intelligence to condense user reviews into a concise summary displayed beneath an app’s review score. For instance, an AI-generated summary for ChatGPT reportedly reads: “Users say the app is helpful and convenient. They appreciate its ability to answer questions and its fast response times. They also praise its advanced voice mode.”
If implemented effectively, this feature could be a game-changer. Instead of manually sifting through outdated and irrelevant reviews, users would get a quick, AI-curated snapshot of what people think about an app. Having all the key takeaways in one place would make browsing the App Store far more efficient.
Skepticism Remains
While this sounds promising, I’m not convinced it will be a perfect solution. Apple Intelligence’s summarization capabilities have already shown weaknesses—such as its failure to accurately summarize BBC News articles. AI-generated summaries can sometimes misinterpret content or highlight misleading information.
Several questions remain unanswered. How will Apple’s AI determine which reviews are relevant? Will older reviews be weighted differently? If outdated complaints resurface in summaries, they could mislead users rather than provide clarity.
The App Store Still Has Bigger Issues
Even if AI summaries improve the reviews section, other fundamental App Store problems persist. Search results often surface unrelated apps or prioritize ads over relevant listings. Additionally, Apple’s app review process remains inconsistent, with arbitrary approval decisions frustrating developers and users alike.
That said, this AI-driven approach could be a step in the right direction. The App Store’s review system is long overdue for improvement, and Apple’s efforts to refine it are welcome. Only time will tell if Apple Intelligence can truly fix this longstanding problem.
