Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has threatened “immediate legal action” against Apple, accusing the tech giant of anticompetitive practices in its App Store rankings. Musk alleges Apple deliberately favors OpenAI’s ChatGPT while suppressing his own AI chatbot, Grok, in what he calls an “unequivocal antitrust violation”.
The dispute erupted Monday when Musk posted on his social media platform X: “Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store.” He specifically criticized Apple for excluding X (which he claims is the “#1 news app in the world”) and Grok (ranked fifth among free apps) from its curated “Must Have Apps” section. ChatGPT currently holds the top free app spot in the U.S. iOS store, with Grok ranked sixth as of Tuesday.
Apple Denies Bias, Highlights Objective Criteria
Apple swiftly rejected the allegations, stating its App Store is “designed to be fair and free of bias.” In a statement to multiple outlets, an Apple spokesperson explained: “We feature thousands of apps through charts, algorithmic recommendations, and curated lists selected by experts using objective criteria”. The company emphasized safety and user experience as guiding principles.
Third-party data undermines Musk’s core claim. Chinese AI app DeepSeek topped the App Store in January 2025, while Perplexity hit #1 in India’s iOS store in July, both occurring after Apple announced its OpenAI partnership in mid-2024. “If Apple were rigging the system, these surges wouldn’t be possible,” noted tech analyst Rebecca Cheng. “Rankings fluctuate based on downloads, engagement, and regional trends.”
Musk vs. Altman: A Decade-Long Rivalry Reignites
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman fired back at Musk’s accusations, citing alleged platform manipulation on X: “This is a remarkable claim given what I have heard alleged that Elon does to manipulate X to benefit himself and his own companies”. Musk retorted by calling Altman a “liar,” igniting a public spat that saw Altman challenge Musk to sign an affidavit denying algorithmic interference on X.
The hostility stems from Musk’s co-founding of OpenAI in 2015 and subsequent exit in 2018 over strategic disagreements. He has since sued OpenAI twice, accusing it of abandoning its nonprofit mission, a claim Altman dismisses as jealousy over the company’s $500 billion valuation talks.
Broader Antitrust Scrutiny Intensifies
Musk’s threat amplifies existing legal pressure on Apple’s App Store policies. In April, a U.S. judge found Apple in violation of an order to ease App Store restrictions following Epic Games’ antitrust lawsuit. The European Union also fined Apple €500 million ($581 million) for blocking developers from directing users to cheaper external payment options.
“Apple’s control over app distribution is a bullseye for regulators globally,” said antitrust attorney Mark Kovinsky. “But Musk faces hurdles proving deliberate suppression when rivals like Google’s Gemini rank 57, far below Grok”.
The Stakes for AI Competition
At the heart of the conflict is Apple’s high-profile integration of ChatGPT into iOS, announced in 2024. Musk previously threatened to ban Apple devices from his companies over security concerns,,rns but walked back the stance after a conversation with CEO Tim Cook. Industry watchers see this lawsuit threat as Musk’s latest effort to position Grok as an “uncensored” alternative to ChatGPT amid a brutally competitive AI market.
As legal teams prepare, the outcome could reshape how app marketplaces curate content and how deeply regulators probe the algorithms governing digital discovery.
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