Elon Musk’s explosive threat to sue Apple over alleged App Store manipulation represents the latest escalation in his ongoing war against Big Tech dominance and competitive practices. The billionaire’s accusation that Apple systematically favors OpenAI’s ChatGPT over his Grok AI chatbot highlights growing tensions between tech titans vying for artificial intelligence supremacy. This legal threat emerges as Apple faces mounting scrutiny over its App Store policies, with regulators and competitors increasingly challenging the company’s control over app distribution and rankings. Musk’s bold move could potentially reshape how major platforms manage AI app visibility and competitive fairness in the rapidly evolving digital marketplace.
Legal Threat Details
Billionaire Elon Musk said on Monday his artificial intelligence startup xAI would take legal action against Apple AAPL.O, accusing the iPhone maker of breaching antitrust regulations in managing App Store rankings.
“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,” Musk said in a post on his social media platform X.
Apple has a partnership with OpenAI that integrates ChatGPT into iPhones, iPads and Macs.
Musk did not provide evidence to support his claim. Apple, OpenAI, and xAI did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.
Industry Response
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded to Musk on Monday.
“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 said on X.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT currently holds the top spot in the App Store’s “Top Free Apps” section in the U.S., while xAI’s Grok ranks fifth.
The irony of Musk’s accusations becomes particularly striking when viewed against his own platform manipulation practices on X, where research has documented algorithmic changes designed to boost his personal posts and suppress competitors. This hypocrisy undermines the credibility of his antitrust claims while highlighting the broader issue of platform owners wielding disproportionate influence over content visibility and user engagement. The dispute reveals how tech moguls increasingly use legal threats and public accusations as competitive weapons, blurring the lines between legitimate antitrust concerns and strategic business maneuvering.
App Store Controversy
“Hey @Apple App Store, why do you refuse to put either X or Grok in your ‘Must Have’ section when X is the #1 news app in the world and Grok is #5 among all apps? Are you playing politics?,” Musk said in an earlier post on Monday.
Users on X – through the community notes feature – have pointed out that a few apps besides OpenAI have taken the top spot on the App Store this year.
Chinese AI app DeepSeek reached the No.1 spot on the platform in January, while in July, Perplexity took first place in India’s App Store – both occurring after the OpenAI and Apple partnership struck last year.
Regulatory Context
Musk’s comments come as regulators and rivals intensify scrutiny of Apple’s control over its App Store.
Earlier this year, Apple was ordered to pay a fine of 500 million euros ($581.15 million) by the EU antitrust enforcer, which saidthe company’s restrictions prevented developers from steering users outside the App Store.
Musk’s threat to sue Apple over App Store rankings exposes the complex dynamics of platform competition in the AI era, where visibility and user access determine market success. While his accusations lack concrete evidence and are undermined by his own platform manipulation practices, they highlight legitimate concerns about Big Tech’s gatekeeping power over digital innovation. The dispute reflects broader tensions between established tech giants and emerging AI companies competing for user attention and market dominance. Whether this legal threat materializes into actual litigation or remains another Musk publicity stunt, it underscores the urgent need for clearer regulations governing platform neutrality and competitive fairness in the digital age.
GCN.com/Reuters.