X owner Elon Musk has threatened legal action against Apple after claiming it has made it “impossible” for apps other than ChatGPT to compete in its App Store. Musk called this an “unequivocal antitrust violation” and said that xAI “will take immediate legal action.”
He also questioned why Apple would not promote X or his AI app, Grok, in the “Must Have” section, despite him calling X “the number one news app in the world” and noting Grok’s “number five ranking globally”.
In response, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman accused Musk of hypocrisy, pointing to reports that Musk manipulated X’s algorithm to benefit his own posts and hurt competitors. Altman called Musk’s claim “a remarkable claim” and referenced a 2023 Platformer report on X algorithm manipulation.
Musk fired back on social media, calling Altman a “liar” and pointing out that Altman’s post had three million views despite Musk having fifty times more followers.
This exchange is the latest chapter in the rivalry between the two former co-founders of OpenAI. Musk left the organization in 2018 and has accused it of abandoning its original nonprofit mission. He previously sued OpenAI in early 2024, withdrew the suit, and then refiled it in mid-2024. (Full background here)
Apple has defended its App Store practices, saying it is designed to be “fair and free of bias” and that it uses objective systems to help users discover apps, an Apple spokesperson told Business Insider.
As Musk and Altman continue trading accusations, the clash reflects a deeper competition for influence in the AI industry and shows how control over platforms has become a key battleground for tech giants.