The mobile AI gold rush has flooded app stores with lookalikes—shiny, convincing apps promising “AI image generation,” “smart chat,” or “instant productivity.” But behind the flashy logos lurks a spectrum of fake apps, from harmless copycats to outright spyware. Spoofing trusted brands like OpenAI’s ChatGPT has become the latest tactic for opportunistic developers and cybercriminals to sell their “inventions” and spread malware. A quick scan of app stores in 2025 shows an explosion of “AI” apps. As Appknox research reveals, these clones fall along a wide risk spectrum: Harmless wrappers: Some unofficial “wrappers” connect to legitimate AI APIs with basic add-ons like ads or themes. These mostly create privacy or confusion risks, rather than direct harm. Adware impersonators: Others abuse…