When scrolling through the App Store, most of us skim a handful of reviews before making a decision. Soon, Apple will do that reading for you. The company is introducing AI-generated review summaries with iOS 18.4, using large language models to analyze user feedback and present the key points in a concise paragraph.
Key Points:
- Feature launches first in US English with wider rollout planned throughout 2025
- Summaries will be refreshed weekly for apps with "sufficient" reviews
- Users and developers can report problematic summaries
- Similar features already exist on Amazon and Google platforms
The new feature, currently available in the iOS 18.4 beta, represents Apple's latest effort to integrate its Apple Intelligence technology across its ecosystem. According to information on Apple's developer website, these AI-powered summaries will "compile highlights and key information from individual user reviews into a short paragraph" that appears above the traditional review section.
Apple's approach mirrors similar functionality already implemented by tech rivals. Amazon introduced AI-generated review highlights for products in 2023, while Google added review summaries to Maps last year.
The summaries will initially only appear for English-language reviews of apps with enough user feedback to generate meaningful analysis, though Apple hasn't specified the exact threshold. The company plans to expand the feature to additional languages and regions "over the course of the year."
To maintain accuracy, both users and developers can flag problematic summaries. Users can tap and hold on a summary to report issues, while developers can submit concerns through App Store Connect. Apple says summaries will be refreshed at least weekly to incorporate recent feedback.
While convenient for users seeking quick information, the feature raises questions about potential manipulation. The App Store already faces challenges with fake reviews, and introducing AI summaries could potentially amplify this problem if unscrupulous developers flood their listings with artificial positive feedback.
"Consumers may begin to rely too heavily on the review summary itself instead of more carefully reading through all reviews, both good and bad," noted Sarah Perez in her TechCrunch report on the feature.
The effectiveness of the summaries will largely depend on how well Apple's AI technology balances positive and negative feedback. Based on examples shared by Apple, the summaries appear to present positive aspects first before addressing criticisms – an approach that some may find misleading.
"From my experience with Amazon's summaries, I find that its focus on the positive aspects first can feel disingenuous," wrote Jennifer Pattison Tuohy at The Verge. "I review products for a living, and if something is bad, that will absolutely be the first thing I say."
The full version of iOS 18.4 is expected to roll out to the public in April. The update will also introduce expanded Apple Intelligence language support, EU access to Apple Intelligence, Visual Intelligence for iPhone 15 Pro, new Control Center options for Siri, download pausing capabilities, and a feature to prioritize important notifications.