Elon Musk Threatens Legal Action Against Apple Over Alleged App Store Bias Favoring OpenAI
In a bold escalation of his ongoing disputes with tech giants, Elon Musk has threatened to sue Apple, accusing the company of antitrust violations in how it ranks AI applications on its App Store. Musk claims that Apple’s practices make it nearly impossible for any AI company other than OpenAI to achieve the top spot, specifically hindering his xAI-developed chatbot, Grok. This move comes amid Musk’s longstanding rivalry with OpenAI and adds to the mounting scrutiny on Apple’s App Store policies.
The Spark: Musk’s Accusations on X
On August 12, 2025, Musk took to his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to voice his frustrations. In a direct post, he stated: “Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation. xAI will take immediate legal action.” This followed an earlier query where Musk questioned why neither X nor Grok appeared in the App Store’s “Must Have” section, despite claiming X is the “#1 news app in the world” and Grok ranks highly overall.
Musk further amplified his criticism by responding to user-shared screenshots of App Store banners prominently featuring OpenAI’s ChatGPT, remarking, “Apple behaves like it’s owned by OpenAI — why?” He emphasized the severity, adding, “Unfortunately, what choice do we have? Apple didn’t just put their thumb on the scale, they put their whole body!”
Current App Store rankings show OpenAI’s ChatGPT holding the #1 position among free apps, while Grok sits at #6, and Google’s Gemini chatbot lags at #57. Musk did not provide specific evidence for his claims of bias, though critics noted that other AI apps, such as DeepSeek, have previously reached #1 on the App Store—even after Apple’s partnership with OpenAI was announced in January 2025.
Background: Grok, xAI, and the Human Touch in AI
Grok, developed by Musk’s xAI, is positioned as an AI with a “human touch”—helpful, maximally truthful, and infused with humor, drawing inspiration from the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Launched in 2023, Grok aims to differentiate itself from competitors like ChatGPT by leveraging real-time data from X and emphasizing transparency and wit. xAI, founded by Musk in 2023, seeks to “understand the true nature of the universe” and has rapidly advanced its models, with Grok-3 and Grok-4 available through premium subscriptions on platforms like grok.com and the X app.
This “human touch” refers to Grok’s personality-driven responses, which avoid the perceived blandness of other AIs. However, the app’s ranking has become a flashpoint, symbolizing broader tensions in the AI landscape.
The Feud with OpenAI and Sam Altman’s Response
Musk’s threat is deeply intertwined with his acrimonious history with OpenAI. Co-founded by Musk and Sam Altman in 2015 as a nonprofit focused on safe AI development, OpenAI shifted toward a for-profit model, prompting Musk’s departure from the board in 2018. Since then, Musk has been a vocal critic, accusing OpenAI of betraying its mission through partnerships like its deal with Microsoft.
In February 2024, Musk sued OpenAI, alleging violations of its nonprofit charter, only to withdraw and refile the suit later that year. Apple’s integration of OpenAI’s technology into iOS 18, announced earlier in 2025, has further fueled Musk’s ire, as it positions ChatGPT as a default AI option on Apple devices.
Altman fired back on X, calling Musk’s accusations “remarkable” in light of allegations that Musk manipulates X to favor his interests and harm competitors. Altman stated, “This is a remarkable claim given what I have heard alleged that Elon does to manipulate X to benefit himself and his own companies and harm his competitors and people he doesn’t like.” He added that OpenAI would stay “focused on making great products.”
Past Clashes with Apple and Broader Antitrust Implications
This isn’t Musk’s first rodeo with Apple. In 2022, shortly after acquiring Twitter, Musk accused Apple of censorship and monopolistic behavior, claiming it had halted advertising on the platform and threatened to remove Twitter from the App Store. He has repeatedly criticized Apple’s 30% App Store fee as a “tax on the Internet,” once calling it “literally 10 times higher than it should be.” A meeting with Apple CEO Tim Cook in November 2022 resolved that dispute, with Musk clarifying it was a “misunderstanding.”
The current threat aligns with increasing regulatory pressure on Apple. In April 2025, a U.S. judge ruled Apple violated a court order to enhance App Store competition, referring it for a criminal contempt probe. The European Union fined Apple €500 million ($587 million) for breaching the Digital Markets Act, though Apple is appealing. Musk’s lawsuit could amplify these challenges, potentially drawing in U.S. antitrust authorities.
As of now, neither xAI nor Apple has commented further on the impending legal action. Industry watchers speculate this could lead to broader investigations into App Store curation and AI favoritism. For users, it highlights the competitive AI wars, where rankings can dictate visibility and adoption.
Musk’s move underscores his willingness to challenge tech behemoths, but whether it results in change or merely headlines remains to be seen. Stay tuned as this story develops.
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