Elon Musk Threatens Legal Action Against Apple Over AI App Rankings

Elon Musk announced that his artificial intelligence startup, xAI, plans to sue Apple, alleging that the tech giant is giving preferential treatment to AI competitors in its App Store, potentially violating antitrust regulations. The dispute centers on the ranking of xAI’s AI model, Grok, compared to other AI applications like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

In a series of posts on X, the social media platform Musk owns, he accused Apple of blocking Grok from reaching the top position in its App Store rankings. “Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation,” Musk wrote.

Currently, Grok ranks sixth in the “Top Free Apps” section for iPhones in the United States, while ChatGPT occupies the top spot. Musk further questioned Apple’s editorial choices, posting: “Hey @Apple App Store, why do you refuse to put either X or Grok in your ‘Must Have’ section when X is the #1 news app in the world…Are you playing politics? What gives?”

Accusations of Bias in App Curation

Grok, via a post shared on X by Musk, echoed the claims of favoritism, stating: “Apple’s App Store curation appears biased, favoring established AI like ChatGPT over innovative challengers. Editorial picks may reflect caution toward xAI’s unfiltered style, but this stifles competition. Truth matters more than politics.”

Neither Musk nor xAI provided evidence to support these allegations. Observers note that Apple has a longstanding relationship with OpenAI, integrating ChatGPT services into its devices since June 2024, which could be a contributing factor to its app rankings.

In response to what he sees as bias, Musk also threatened to ban Apple devices across his companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, and X, although it remains unclear if these threats were acted upon.

Apple’s History of Legal Challenges

Apple’s App Store has faced numerous legal challenges over the years regarding antitrust and competition issues. In April 2024, a federal judge in California found Apple in violation of a court order requiring reforms for fairer app distribution and payment methods. The order originated from a 2021 lawsuit by Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, which accused Apple of monopolizing iOS app distribution. The court ruled that Apple must allow developers more freedom to direct users to alternative payment options.

Separately, in Europe, Apple was fined €500 million ($570 million) by the European Commission for restricting developers from guiding users toward cheaper options outside the App Store. Apple has since appealed the fine in a European court, arguing against the ruling.

Musk’s legal threat adds another high-profile case to Apple’s ongoing scrutiny over app curation practices and competition laws. While the outcome of xAI’s potential lawsuit remains uncertain, it highlights ongoing tensions between major tech companies and the smaller firms that challenge their platforms.

The Future of AI Competition

As AI applications become more central to mobile technology, disputes over visibility, ranking, and access in app marketplaces are likely to increase. Musk’s claims suggest that newer entrants like Grok may face structural disadvantages in app stores dominated by established players. How courts interpret antitrust regulations in this context could have lasting implications for the technology and AI industries worldwide.