The next time you create a custom app using Google’s AI Studio, you won’t need to connect your phone to a computer to install it. On Tuesday, Google announced a new feature in the US that allows you to launch personal apps directly from the Play Store.
Google first launched the ability to vibe-code personal Android apps in May. Although you can now launch your custom apps on Google Play, the company notes that they will continue to be “secure, private and separate from the public store catalog.” You can also launch them with a standard Google account, and the company will soon add the ability to share your app with a select group of people as well.
While this may make it easier to play with experimental apps, Google is positioning it as a sort of on-ramp for new developers. “When you want to share your app with the world, Google Play helps you sign up for a professional developer account with the same Trust & Safety reviews and high-quality standards as professional developers,” wrote Sam Bright, Google’s vice president and general manager of Google Play, in the announcement.