Musk accuses Apple of App Store bias, promises legal action from xAI
Elon Musk's AI Company, xAI, Files Lawsuit Against Apple Over Alleged App Store Manipulation
In a bold move, Elon Musk's AI company, xAI, has announced its intention to file a lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of antitrust violations related to App Store rankings management.
The lawsuit, which was announced in mid-August 2025, stems from Musk's belief that Apple manipulates its App Store rankings and featured sections to favour OpenAI's ChatGPT app, making it difficult for other AI companies, including xAI's Grok app, to reach the top spot.
The case centres on Apple's refusal to feature Musk’s apps, X and Grok, among the "Must Have" or top recommended apps despite their popularity. Musk argues this constitutes an "unequivocal antitrust violation," alleging Apple is playing politics by favouring OpenAI, which owns ChatGPT, currently ranked higher in the App Store rankings.
As of the latest updates, the lawsuit filing has been announced by Musk, but no detailed legal documents or formal case filings have been reported publicly yet. There is also no reported response from Apple or other official legal developments beyond Musk’s threat and public statements.
The situation appears to be at an early stage, with Musk signalling immediate legal action but the current status limited to announced intentions rather than an active court case.
It's important to note that this case is separate from the one brought by 'Fortnite' maker Epic Games against Apple, which resulted in a US judge referring Apple to federal prosecutors for a criminal contempt investigation in April.
Musk's xAI launched the Grok AI chatbot app that competes directly with OpenAI's ChatGPT. As of the announcement, ChatGPT holds the top spot in the App Store's "Top Free Apps" section for iPhones in the US, with xAI's Grok ranking fifth and Google’s Gemini chatbot at 57th.
This move by xAI comes amidst increasing scrutiny of Apple's control over its App Store. The App Store's alleged antitrust violations are under increased scrutiny from regulators and rivals. Apple has a partnership with OpenAI that integrates ChatGPT into iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
In April, Apple was fined 500 million euros ($587 million) by the EU antitrust enforcer for technical and commercial restrictions that prevented app developers from steering users to cheaper deals outside the App Store.
This is a developing story and we will keep you updated as more information becomes available.
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