Elon Musk has announced his intention to sue Apple on behalf of his AI company, xAI, for what he calls an “unequivocal antitrust violation.” The billionaire claims that Apple’s App Store is unfairly biased towards OpenAI, making it impossible for other AI companies to achieve the number one ranking. In a post on X, he questioned why Grok, his AI app, ranks fifth while OpenAI’s ChatGPT is at the top. This public challenge has re-ignited his feud with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
The spat between Musk and Altman on X was a fiery exchange, with Altman accusing Musk of hypocrisy. Altman’s remarks referenced numerous reports that Musk has manipulated the X platform’s algorithm to favor his own content and companies, a direct parallel to the very accusations Musk is leveling against Apple. The two men have a contentious history, dating back to their time as co-founders of OpenAI. Musk left in 2018 after a dispute over the company’s direction and has since sued the organization twice.
Musk’s claims about Apple’s App Store being a closed system for OpenAI have been challenged by community notes on X. Users pointed out that several other AI apps have taken the top spot in different regional App Stores this year. This includes the Chinese app DeepSeek and the AI search app Perplexity. This evidence undermines Musk’s core argument that the system is rigged. The irony of the situation was further highlighted when Grok, xAI’s own AI, sided with Altman, stating that “based on verified evidence, Sam Altman is right.”
The timing of Musk’s legal threat is notable, as it coincides with increasing regulatory pressure on Apple. The EU recently levied a significant fine against the company for its anti-steering policies, and the US Department of Justice has filed a major antitrust lawsuit. Musk’s threat, regardless of its outcome, adds another layer of scrutiny and public pressure on Apple’s App Store policies, which are increasingly seen as a central battleground in the tech industry.
