Everyone is talking about the massive headcount reduction and "mass layoffs" in mobile development, but that’s the wrong diagnosis. AI code generation didn't replace 60% of developers; it replaced 60% of the grunt work they were doing, exposing a massive, expensive weakness in the junior-to-mid-level talent pool.

The Consumer AI boom hit 1.8 billion users faster than any technology in history. This unprecedented pace tells us the user base is ready for something fundamentally new in their pockets. Right now, your mobile app is reactive; it waits for a tap or a query. By 2026, the apps that succeed will be predictive and proactive. They won't wait for your command. They'll know what you need, where you are, and even how you feel, intervening before you ask.

You think iOS 26 will be about AI. That's what Apple wants you to believe. They will certainly talk about new LLM integrations and smarter Siri interactions. But most devs fixate on the glossy features. That's a mistake.