Apple has dismissed Elon Musk’s claims that its partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT directly into the iPhone gives the AI chatbot a monopoly as baseless and unsupported by evidence. In court documents filed Tuesday and reported by Bloomberg, Apple’s legal team asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Musk’s companies, xAI and X Corp, which accused Apple of anti-competitive behavior. The lawsuit, filed in August, alleged that Apple manipulated App Store rankings to favor OpenAI’s ChatGPT while undermining rival AI apps, including Musk’s Grok and X’s chatbot. Apple’s lawyers argued that the claims made by xAI and X Corp are speculative and lack factual foundation. They emphasized that the agreement between Apple and OpenAI is not exclusive, meaning Apple is free to work with other AI providers. The company also pointed out that it has publicly stated its intent to partner with multiple generative AI platforms, not just OpenAI. This, Apple argues, undermines the notion of a monopoly or anti-competitive restraint. Furthermore, Apple’s legal team stressed that competition law does not require a company to partner with every AI chatbot on the market, regardless of quality or viability. They contended that Apple has the right to choose its partners based on performance, integration, and user experience, not obligation. The company highlighted that it has already begun exploring partnerships with other AI developers and has not blocked access to its platform for competing apps. The lawsuit stems from Musk’s broader concerns about Apple’s role in shaping the AI landscape. He has previously criticized Apple’s deep integration of ChatGPT into iOS, claiming it stifles innovation and gives OpenAI an unfair advantage. Musk’s companies argued that Apple’s control over the App Store allows it to unfairly promote its own preferred AI tools while demoting others. However, Apple maintains that its actions are consistent with fair business practices and that no evidence supports the claim of systematic bias. The legal battle underscores the growing tension between tech giants over AI competition, platform control, and access to users. As generative AI becomes central to consumer technology, companies like Apple, OpenAI, and Musk’s xAI are vying for dominance in a rapidly evolving market. Apple’s defense reflects its broader strategy of maintaining platform integrity while fostering innovation through selective partnerships. Despite the dismissal request, the case will proceed to further legal stages, where the court will assess whether Apple’s actions violated antitrust laws. The outcome could have significant implications for how tech platforms manage AI integrations and partner with third-party developers. Meanwhile, OpenAI has echoed Apple’s stance, calling Musk’s claims “baseless” and asserting that Apple’s collaboration with OpenAI does not hinder competition. The company emphasized that AI innovation thrives on diverse partnerships and that Apple’s openness to other AI models supports a competitive ecosystem. The case is part of a larger trend of legal challenges involving tech giants and AI, including lawsuits from publishers, artists, and content creators over training data use. As AI reshapes digital services, courts are increasingly called upon to define the boundaries of fair competition, platform power, and intellectual property in the digital age. For now, Apple remains confident in its position, asserting that its partnership with OpenAI is both legal and beneficial to consumers, while defending its right to choose its technology partners without being forced to include every AI contender on the market.