Google Will Let Anyone Publish Privately Listed Vibe-Coded Apps on the Play Store

Alphabet Inc.’s Google is making it easier for Android users to run vibe-coded apps for personal use, lowering the barrier for nontechnical consumers who are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to build tools for their own needs.

Starting Tuesday, people 18 and older with a Google account can publish Android apps on the Play Store that were created through Google AI Studio, a web-based platform for prototyping apps and creating media with the tech giant’s various AI models. Notably, the new allowance includes even people without a paid developer account, opening up the Play Store to so-called vibe coders — anyone who uses natural language to ask AI to generate software code.

Some caveats apply: These apps will be privately listed, meaning they’re for personal use and not visible in the store’s universal search or recommendations. The integration is also not available with Antigravity, Google’s other AI-powered software development platform.

The changes offer a free way for Google users to experiment and launch mobile apps in the age of generative AI. Until now, would-be app developers faced bigger hurdles. Google charges a one-time $25 registration fee for developer accounts, takes several days to review newly submitted apps and earns a commission if developers charge for in-app digital services. Apple Inc.’s App Store requires $99 a year for its developer program.

Google plans to eventually make it possible for vibe coders to share their personal app with a small group of users such as friends and family, said Sam Bright, vice president and general manager of Google Play and the developer ecosystem. Google is also limiting the in-app services that these developers can charge for initially, he added.

During a media briefing ahead of the announcement, Bright presented an example of creating a custom tracking app for his children’s local sports team to coordinate jersey money, umpire fees and post-game pizza costs across 15 families.

Google introduced the AI Studio tool in 2023 for users to test its latest AI models for coding and image and audio generation in a web browser, without needing to configure their own devices. At its I/O developer conference this May, Google streamlined the process for coders to create and test Android apps within the tool.

Google has been offering consumers other ways to personalize their devices using AI. In May, the company started letting Android device owners use Gemini to create custom home screen widgets.

While developers and users have always been able to install apps from various sources onto Android devices without going through the Play store, Bright said Google AI Studio has built-in security checks that ensure personal apps that go to the Play Store won’t contain harmful or inappropriate content.

Bright added that the changes will better streamline the experience for nontechnical people “who are dabbling with becoming a builder for the first time,” giving them “maximum optionality” to decide how they want to increase their app’s audience over time.

“The future of apps on Google Play is personal, secure and built by everyone,” Bright said.