Elon Musk Sues Apple Over App Store AI Bias and Antitrust Allegations

Elon Musk has accused Apple of engaging in antitrust violations by allegedly prioritizing OpenAI’s ChatGPT over his own AI chatbot, Grok, within the App Store. In a series of posts on X, Musk claimed that Apple’s policies make it nearly impossible for any AI company other than OpenAI to reach the top of the App Store Charts. He emphasized that this behavior constitutes an “unequivocal antitrust violation” and stated that xAI would take immediate legal action against the iPhone maker [1]. Musk also questioned Apple’s editorial decisions in excluding X and Grok from its “Must Have” section, suggesting a political bias in its favoring of ChatGPT [2].

Musk’s criticisms stem from Apple’s strategic partnership with OpenAI, which was formalized in June 2024. The collaboration involves integrating ChatGPT into Apple’s ecosystem, including features such as enhanced Siri capabilities and the “Apple Intelligence” suite. This partnership enables Apple to introduce AI-driven functionalities like emoji generation and email summarization while ensuring data remains private on user devices [1]. However, Musk has argued that the arrangement compromises user data security by allowing OpenAI access to sensitive device information [1].

OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, responded to Musk’s accusations by redirecting attention to reports that Musk allegedly manipulates X to benefit his own ventures. Altman stated that OpenAI would remain focused on product development and declined to engage further in the dispute [1].

This latest clash between Musk and Apple comes as the tech giant faces increasing regulatory pressure. A U.S. federal judge recently ruled that Apple violated a court order to reform its App Store for greater competition. Additionally, the European Commission fined Apple $570 million for breaching digital competition laws [1]. The tensions between Musk and Apple also reflect a deeper rift over their shared history with OpenAI, where both were co-founders before parting ways over the organization’s shift to a for-profit model [1].

Apple’s continued partnership with OpenAI, highlighted at its 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference, underscores its aggressive strategy in the AI market. The company plans to roll out new visual intelligence features in iOS 26, allowing users to analyze images and text on their screens and interact with ChatGPT for additional information [1].

Musk’s legal threat against Apple could intensify scrutiny over App Store practices, particularly in light of recent regulatory actions. However, Apple has consistently defended its decisions as editorial choices, rather than market manipulation. The dispute raises broader questions about the influence of platform gatekeepers in shaping the AI landscape and whether such influence aligns with fair competition standards.

Sources:

[1] https://technext24.com/2025/08/12/chatgpt-elon-musk-accuses-apple-grokai/

[2] https://www.euronews.com/next/2025/08/12/elon-musk-threatens-to-sue-apple-for-not-ranking-x-or-grok-among-its-top-apps

[3] https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/are-you-playing-politics-musk-accuses-apple-of-antitrust-violation-over-app-store-rankings/