Elon Musk is once again in the headlines, this time over an App Store dispute.
The billionaire claims that Apple is giving his competitors, particularly OpenAI’s ChatGPT, an unfair advantage in its rankings.
In a series of posts on X, Musk said his AI startup, xAI, is preparing to take “immediate legal action” against Apple.
According to him, the tech giant is making it “impossible” for any AI company other than OpenAI to hit the top spot on the App Store.
Currently, Grok-xAI’s flagship chatbot sits in sixth place in the “Top Free Apps” list in the U.S. App Store.
Meanwhile, ChatGPT enjoys the number one position.
Calling Out Apple’s “Must-Have” Picks
Musk also aimed at Apple’s editorial choices. In a pinned post, he questioned why neither X nor Grok appeared in the App Store’s “Must Have” section despite X being “the #1 news app in the world.”
Grok’s official account joined in, posting that Apple’s app curation “appears biased” toward established names like ChatGPT.
It suggested that Apple might be cautious about Grok’s “unfiltered style,” but argued that such caution “stifles competition.”
No Evidence Yet, But Tensions Run Deep
Neither Musk nor Grok provided evidence for these claims. However, this isn’t the first clash between Musk and Apple over AI.
In June 2024, Apple announced a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into its devices.
In response, Musk threatened to ban Apple products from his companies, including X, Tesla, and SpaceX. It remains unclear if he followed through.
Apple’s Legal History With App Store Rules
Musk’s accusations add to Apple’s growing list of App Store controversies.
Recent high-profile disputes include:
| Date | Case | Outcome |
| April 2024 | A Federal Judge in California found Apple violated a court order to reform its App Store | Apple ordered to give developers more payment flexibility |
| April 2024 | European Commission fined Apple €500M ($570M) for breaching competition law | Apple appealed the fine |
| 2021 | Epic Games sued Apple over its monopoly on iOS app distribution | The court found Apple violated California competition law |
Why This Matters for AI Developers
If Musk’s claims are accurate, smaller AI companies could find it harder to compete in the marketplace.
App Store visibility plays a big role in attracting users, and being excluded from “Must Have” lists or top rankings could slow growth.
For users, it also raises a question: Are we getting the best AI tools, or just the ones given prime shelf space?
The Bigger Picture
This fight is more than a tech rivalry.
It’s part of a broader conversation about how digital marketplaces shape competition.
Whether Musk’s lawsuit or not, it highlights the power big tech companies hold over which apps rise or fall.
In a world where AI is becoming part of our daily lives, the gatekeepers of app distribution have a major influence on what technology we use.
