Musk Accuses Apple of AI App Store Bias, Threatens Legal Action

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, recently accused Apple of implementing restrictive measures that prevent any artificial intelligence company, except for OpenAI, from topping its app store rankings. Musk labeled this as a clear violation of anti-monopoly regulations and announced that his company, xAI, would immediately take legal action against Apple.

xAI, founded by Musk in 2023, is an artificial intelligence startup. Earlier this year, in July, xAI officially launched Grok 4, which Musk claims is the "world's most powerful AI model," capable of handling academic problems at a doctoral level. This puts xAI in direct competition with OpenAI, which recently released its own advanced AI model, GPT-5. OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, described GPT-5 as the "best model in the world," marking a significant step towards developing general artificial intelligence (AGI).

The rivalry between xAI and OpenAI is evident, with both companies vying for dominance in the AI sector. Following Musk's threat of legal action against Apple, Altman responded on X by sharing Musk's post and expressing surprise at the allegations. Altman emphasized that OpenAI would focus on creating excellent products, while also hinting at the need for an investigation into Musk's alleged manipulation of X for personal and corporate gain.

The tension between Musk and Altman is not new. Last year, Musk sued OpenAI in both state and federal courts, accusing the company of violating its non-profit commitments by transitioning to a commercial model. He also sought a court order to prevent OpenAI from converting to a for-profit entity. Musk has publicly criticized Altman on multiple occasions, further fueling the rivalry between the two tech giants.

The dispute highlights the intense competition within the AI industry, where companies are racing to develop the most advanced models. The legal battle between Musk and Apple, if it materializes, could have significant implications for the tech industry, potentially setting precedents for how app store rankings and anti-monopoly regulations are enforced. The outcome of this conflict will be closely watched by industry observers and could shape the future landscape of AI development and distribution.