Elon Musk has leveled sharp criticism at Apple on behalf of his AI startup, xAI. Musk claims that Apple’s App Store rankings give unfair preference to ChatGPT, making it “impossible for any AI app other than ChatGPT to reach the top spot.” He labeled this a “clear antitrust violation” and announced plans for “immediate legal action.”
In a post on X, Musk questioned Apple’s editorial decisions, pointing out that the company refused to feature X or Grok in its “Must Have” section despite their popularity.
Altman Fires Back
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded on X, noting there have been “many allegations” that Musk has manipulated X’s own algorithm to favor his content while pushing competitors down. Past reports suggested Musk altered X’s recommendation system to boost his own posts.
The exchange between the two turned sarcastic, with Musk calling Altman a liar, while Altman challenged Musk to swear under oath that he had never modified X’s algorithm for competitive gain—offering to apologize if Musk agreed.
Long-Standing Rivalry
Musk and Altman co-founded OpenAI in 2015, but Musk left in 2018 after his proposal to take full control of the company was rejected. He later accused OpenAI of “betrayal of Shakespearean magnitude” and sued the company twice. Altman, in turn, has described Musk as a jealous and vindictive former partner.
Apple–OpenAI Partnership and Ranking Debate
Apple has integrated ChatGPT into iPhones, iPads, and Macs through a partnership with OpenAI. As of now, ChatGPT holds the #1 spot in the U.S. App Store’s “Top Free Apps,” while Grok ranks fifth.
However, X’s community notes have pointed out that other apps have reached the top in certain regions—Chinese AI app DeepSeek in January and Perplexity in July on India’s App Store.
Bigger Picture
The Musk–Altman dispute goes beyond personal rivalry—it spotlights broader debates about platform policies, market dominance, and fairness in digital ecosystems. The incident has reignited global discussions on AI leadership, App Store transparency, and antitrust regulation.