Elon Musk’s companies, X and xAI, have filed a lawsuit against Apple and OpenAI. The complaint accuses the two firms of colluding to restrict competition in AI.
The lawsuit claims Apple is using its control of the smartphone market to give OpenAI an unfair advantage.
Apple announced in June that ChatGPT will be built into its devices, with features expected to launch in December. Musk argues this integration creates a barrier for rivals.
In the filing, xAI described OpenAI as “a monopolist in the market for generative AI chatbots.”
It further alleged that Apple’s support strengthens OpenAI’s dominance and reduces space for innovation.
Long-Running Tensions
This case is the latest conflict between Musk and OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman. Their disputes go back years.
Elon Musk helped co-found OpenAI but left after disagreements over its direction. Since then, he has criticized the company’s shift to a for-profit model.
He even offered to buy OpenAI for $97.4 billion, but the bid was rejected. Earlier this month, Musk wrote on X that it was “impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store.”
Pressure
Neither Apple nor OpenAI has commented on the lawsuit. However, the case comes as regulators in the U.S. and Europe closely examine the power of Big Tech in AI.
Antitrust investigations are already underway, and Musk’s suit could add momentum to those efforts.
