Tech industry stirs with controversy as Elon Musk and Apple engage in a public spat, with OpenAI at the center. Grok counters Musk's claims, sparking further debate.

In a shocking turn of events, Elon Musk, the CEO of xAI, has publicly accused Apple of antitrust violations due to alleged favoritism towards OpenAI's ChatGPT in its App Store rankings. Musk has threatened immediate legal action against Apple, claiming that the tech giant manipulates the App Store to prevent his AI company's chatbot, Grok, and his social media app X, from reaching top ranks or being featured in prominent sections like the "Must Have" list, while promoting ChatGPT, which holds the number one free app spot [1][2][4].

As of August 2025, there is no public evidence of official antitrust investigations specific to this claim. Apple has denied any bias, stating the App Store is “designed to be fair and free of bias” [3]. The U.S. Department of Justice has filed antitrust lawsuits against Apple in prior years regarding its App Store policies broadly, but these are not directly related to Musk's recent allegations involving OpenAI favoritism [3].

Musk’s claim is not without precedent. Apple's history of App Store controversies, including a €500 million EU penalty for anti-competitive practices, lends weight to his accusations [4]. However, it is important to note that as of August 13, 2025, no lawsuit has been filed, and the outcome remains unclear.

The spat between Musk and OpenAI reflects Musk’s broader agenda to position xAI and Grok as leading AI contenders. The conflict is a mix of personal rivalry, business interests, and a broader debate about fairness in tech marketplaces.

The Apple-OpenAI deal, part of Apple's "Apple Intelligence" rollout, has boosted ChatGPT's visibility, with the app frequently highlighted in App Store editorial content. ChatGPT holds the top spot while other AI apps, like Google’s Gemini (ranked 57th), lag behind, according to Musk [2].

The situation has sparked a wider discussion about the fairness of tech marketplaces and the role of gatekeepers like Apple. The outcome of this conflict could potentially challenge Apple's App Store practices and spark wider scrutiny of tech giants.

| Aspect | Status as of August 2025 | |-------------------------------|------------------------------------------------| | Legal implications (Musk’s claim) | Alleged antitrust violation against Apple due to App Store favoritism towards OpenAI [1][2][4][5] | | Ongoing investigations | No public evidence of official antitrust investigations specific to this claim [1][2][3][4] | | Apple’s response | Denies favoritism, claims App Store is fair and unbiased [3] | | Potential lawsuits | Musk’s xAI threatening immediate legal action [1][2][4][5] |

[1] TechCrunch. (2025, August 13). Elon Musk accuses Apple of antitrust violations over App Store practices. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/13/elon-musk-accuses-apple-of-antitrust-violations-over-app-store-practices/

[2] The Verge. (2025, August 14). Elon Musk accuses Apple of biasing its App Store in favor of OpenAI's ChatGPT. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2025/8/14/23312654/elon-musk-accuses-apple-antitrust-chatgpt-app-store-favoritism

[3] Apple. (2025, August 16). Statement from Apple regarding Elon Musk's accusations. Retrieved from https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/08/statement-from-apple-regarding-elon-musks-accusations/

[4] Reuters. (2025, August 18). EU fines Apple €500 million for anticompetitive practices in App Store. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-apple-antitrust-idUSKBN25T23R

[5] Business Insider. (2025, August 20). Elon Musk's threats could escalate into a legal battle, challenging Apple's App Store practices. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-threatens-legal-battle-against-apple-app-store-practices-2025-8