Google Play App Reviews Facing Delays, Potentially Due to Rise in AI-generated "Slop"

Daniel Gultsch, developer of the long-standing open-source messaging app "Conversations," reported on Mastodon on September 16, 2026, that his latest version, submitted on September 9, remained stuck in the review stage after seven days. Gultsch suggested that the review pipeline may be clogged by a large volume of "AI slop"—low-quality applications generated using artificial intelligence. He argued that Google should prioritize updates for established apps that have been maintained for many years.

Reports from the Google Play Developer Community reflect similar concerns. Since the beginning of 2026, some developers have noted that review times have increased from approximately one day to over seven days, with some instances lasting nearly two weeks.

Google has not commented on whether the increase in AI-generated apps is impacting review durations. Meanwhile, the official Google Play Developer Community guide recommends that developers allow up to one week for reviews and advises against making changes to store information during the review process, as this may restart the procedure.

PLUS ULTRAby Amenoyomi

The typical review turnaround for Google Play has shifted from approximately one day to a period often exceeding one week, with some reports of updates remaining in the "In review" stage for nearly two weeks.

This congestion is attributed by some developers to "AI slop"—a surge of low-quality applications generated by artificial intelligence. The theory suggests that the high volume of these submissions is overloading the review pipeline.

The current system does not appear to distinguish between new submissions and established software. Developers of long-standing apps, such as the open-source "Conversations" app with over 12 years of history, have reported similar delays. This has led to arguments that Google should prioritize updates for trusted developers to ensure that stable, long-term projects are not stalled by the influx of low-quality content.

Specific technical configurations may further prolong the process. Reports from the developer community suggest that apps featuring Android Auto support experience significantly longer review cycles, sometimes lasting two to three weeks. In one instance, a developer found that removing Android Auto support reduced the review time to a few hours.