Elon Musk Accuses Apple of Antitrust Bias Favoring OpenAI’s ChatGPT in App Store, Vows Legal Action

Elon Musk has launched a new public and legal campaign against Apple, accusing the tech giant of antitrust violations in favor of OpenAI’s ChatGPT on the iOS App Store. In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Musk claimed Apple’s App Store policies are rigged to prevent his AI chatbot, Grok—developed by his company xAI—from competing fairly. “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,” Musk wrote, vowing that xAI would take “immediate legal action.” He added, “Unfortunately, what choice do we have? Apple didn’t just put their thumb on the scale, they put their whole body!” Musk’s complaint centers on the App Store’s editorial curation, particularly the “Must-Have” section, which currently features only ChatGPT among AI apps. Despite Grok being ranked fifth overall and X (Musk’s social platform) being labeled the “#1 news app in the world,” neither is featured in Apple’s top editorial lists. Musk questioned Apple’s motives, asking, “Are you playing politics? What gives?” He also pointed to Apple’s 2024 partnership with OpenAI, which integrated ChatGPT into Siri and system-wide writing tools across iPhones, iPads, and Macs. This deep integration, he argues, gives OpenAI an unfair advantage in visibility and user access. The rivalry between Musk and OpenAI is well-documented. Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but left in 2018 after disagreements over its direction. Since then, he has become one of its most vocal critics, often accusing it of political bias and corporate overreach. In contrast, xAI, founded in 2021, positions Grok as a more independent, “edgy” alternative. Grok is tightly integrated into X, where it powers real-time responses and content generation. Musk’s latest move appears to be both a public relations strategy and a prelude to legal action. By framing Apple’s actions as anti-competitive and politically motivated, he is attempting to build public and regulatory pressure. His argument aligns with broader concerns about Apple’s control over the App Store, which has already drawn scrutiny from regulators and developers like Epic Games. Critics argue Apple’s ability to promote certain apps while demoting others creates an artificial monopoly. While Apple has not responded publicly, the timing of Musk’s posts—coinciding with growing scrutiny of tech giants—suggests a strategic effort to shift the narrative. The outcome will depend on whether regulators or courts view Apple’s editorial decisions as legitimate curation or as anti-competitive behavior. If Musk follows through with a lawsuit, it could spark a new front in the ongoing battle over AI, platform power, and fair access. This episode underscores the intensifying conflict between AI innovators and platform gatekeepers. As AI becomes central to digital life, control over distribution channels—like the App Store—becomes a critical battleground. Musk’s aggressive tactics reflect a pattern: use public outrage to force negotiations, leverage legal threats, and challenge the status quo. Whether Apple will back down or stand firm remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the war for AI dominance is now extending beyond code and into the courts and public opinion.