Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and founder of xAI, has accused Apple of antitrust violations in its App Store rankings, claiming the company unfairly favours
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and founder of xAI, has accused Apple of antitrust violations in its App Store rankings, claiming the company unfairly favours OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Elon Musk announced that xAI will take “immediate legal action” against Apple, alleging that the tech giant’s App Store policies make it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach the number one spot.
The Controversy
Elon Musk’s claims stem from Apple’s partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT services into its devices.
He argues that this partnership has led to biased App Store rankings, with ChatGPT holding the top spot in the “Top Free Apps” section for iPhones in the US, while xAI’s Grok ranks sixth.
Elon Musk questioned why Apple refuses to feature xAI’s Grok or X, the top-ranked news app globally, in its “Must Have” section, suggesting that Apple may be “playing politics.”
Previous Legal Challenges
This isn’t the first time Apple’s App Store operations have faced legal challenges.
In April, a federal judge in California ruled that Apple had violated a court order to reform its App Store for greater competition in app downloads and payment methods.
The ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, over Apple’s monopoly on iOS app distribution.
Additionally, the European Commission fined Apple €500 million for breaching digital competition laws by restricting app developers from promoting cheaper options outside the App Store.
Apple’s Response
Apple has responded to Musk’s accusations, highlighting safety as a key factor in its app curation process.
The company suggests that its editorial picks may reflect caution toward xAI’s unfiltered style, which could disqualify it from being recommended.
However, Musk argues that this stifles competition and prioritizes politics over truth.
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