OpenAI s latest features take direct aim at the app store model

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-29T20:30:36.325Z • Permanent link

OpenAI's latest features take direct aim at the app store model by introducing a new, in-app payment system and a revamped app store that allows developers to earn a share of the revenue generated by their apps. This move is seen as a significant challenge to the traditional app store model, which has been dominated by Apple and Google's app stores. According to reports, the new payment system, called "OpenAPI," will allow developers to earn up to 85% of the revenue generated by their apps, compared to the 30% cut taken by Apple and Google.

OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, stated that the company's goal is to "democratize access to payment systems and create a more level playing field for developers." The company has already partnered with several major payment providers, including Stripe and Square, to power the new payment system. The revamped app store, called "OpenStore," will also feature a new discovery system that uses machine learning to surface top-rated apps and games.

The launch of OpenAPI and OpenStore is seen as a major development in the ongoing battle for app store dominance between OpenAI and Apple. Apple has long been seen as the gatekeeper of the app store, with its strict review process and 30% cut of revenue generating billions of dollars in revenue each year. Google's app store, on the other hand, has been seen as more developer-friendly, but still takes a 30% cut of revenue.

The launch of OpenAPI and OpenStore has significant implications for the Meta & Facebook AI domain, particularly for companies that rely on app stores to distribute their apps and services. Facebook and Instagram, for example, have long relied on Apple's app store to distribute their apps, and the introduction of OpenAPI and OpenStore could potentially disrupt this model. Research communities and markets are also watching the development closely, as it could have significant implications for the future of app development and the role of AI in the process.

The impact of OpenAPI and OpenStore on the Meta & Facebook AI domain will also be felt in the broader policy environment. The European Union's Digital Markets Act, which aims to regulate the dominance of tech giants like Google and Facebook, may see OpenAPI and OpenStore as a key factor in the debate. The Act aims to promote competition and innovation in the tech sector, and the introduction of OpenAPI and OpenStore could potentially undermine the EU's efforts to regulate the app store model.

The launch of OpenAPI and OpenStore is part of a larger trend towards decentralization and democratization in the tech sector. The rise of decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) has seen a proliferation of new platforms and protocols that aim to bypass traditional gatekeepers and create more open and inclusive ecosystems. OpenAPI and OpenStore are seen as a key part of this trend, and could potentially pave the way for a more decentralized and developer-friendly app store model.