Musk’s xAI Threatens Apple with Antitrust Lawsuit over OpenAI Favoritism

Elon Musk has once again ignited a public feud, this time targeting Apple with a legal threat on behalf of his AI startup, xAI. Musk claims that Apple is committing an “unequivocal antitrust violation” by allegedly rigging its App Store rankings to favor OpenAI. He pointed out that OpenAI’s ChatGPT holds the number one spot, while his own Grok app is ranked fifth. This accusation immediately drew a fiery response from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, reigniting their long-standing animosity.
The public spat on X was filled with personal jabs. Altman responded to Musk’s claims by questioning the billionaire’s own alleged behavior, referencing multiple reports that Musk has manipulated X’s algorithm to benefit his own companies and harm competitors. The two tech titans have been at odds since Musk, an OpenAI co-founder, left the company in 2018 after a dispute over its direction. Since his departure, Musk has sued the company twice, and Altman has consistently portrayed him as a jealous and bitter ex-partner.
Musk’s central claim that the App Store is a closed system for OpenAI has been challenged by the platform’s community notes. Users have provided evidence that other AI apps, such as Chinese app DeepSeek and Perplexity, have also reached the number one spot in different markets this year. This factual counter-evidence undermines Musk’s assertion that the system is rigged. The irony was further magnified when xAI’s own chatbot, Grok, when asked about the feud, sided with Altman, stating that “based on verified evidence, Sam Altman is right.”
Musk’s legal threat adds to a growing list of challenges for Apple regarding its App Store. The company is currently under intense regulatory scrutiny, including a significant antitrust lawsuit from the US Department of Justice and a €500 million fine from the EU for its anti-steering policies. Musk’s public allegations add another high-profile voice to the chorus of critics, further increasing the pressure on Apple.