Elon Musk is threatening to sue Apple over the App Store rankings of his AI app, Grok. The Tesla CEO and owner of X (formerly Twitter) alleges that Apple is unfairly favoring OpenAI's ChatGPT, giving it an undue advantage in the AI app market. Musk claims this constitutes a breach of antitrust regulations.
Musk Accuses Apple of Antitrust Violation
In a series of posts on X, Musk accused Apple of making it “impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store.” He stated that xAI, his artificial intelligence startup, would take “immediate legal action.” Currently, Grok ranks 6th in the App Store's “Top Free Apps” section for iPhones in the United States, while ChatGPT holds the top spot.
The Grok Perspective
Grok, xAI’s AI model, also weighed in on the controversy, stating that “Apple’s App Store curation appears biased, favoring established AI like ChatGPT (overall) over innovative challengers.” They suggested that Apple's editorial picks might reflect caution towards xAI’s unfiltered style, but argued that this stifles competition. “Truth matters more than politics,” Grok wrote.
History of Conflict
The tension between Musk and Apple isn't new. In June 2024, Apple partnered with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT services into its devices. In response, Musk threatened to ban Apple devices at his companies, including X, Tesla, and SpaceX. It remains unclear whether he followed through on this threat.
Previous Legal Challenges
This isn't the first time Apple's App Store operations have faced legal challenges. The App Store's policies and practices have been under scrutiny for alleged anti-competitive behavior. This potential lawsuit from Musk adds another layer to the ongoing debate about fairness and competition in the app marketplace.
CNN has reached out to xAI, Apple, and OpenAI for comment.