Elon Musk’s xAI could also be getting into a brand new lawsuit in opposition to Apple on the grounds that Apple favors ChatGPT and others, however Apple denies any favoritism within the App Retailer.
Complaints round Apple’s App Retailer and its partnership with OpenAI began on Monday, with Elon Musk sharing and quote posting a number of accounts citing equity. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than Elon Musk said that xAI would deliver a lawsuit in opposition to Apple over antitrust management of the App Retailer, however whether or not it has or will stays to be seen.
A couple of day later, Apple shared its response to the accusations, citing that it does not play favorites with the App Retailer. The assertion was shared with Bloomberg and easily says the App Retailer “is designed to be honest and freed from bias.”
“We function 1000’s of apps by way of charts, algorithmic suggestions, and curated lists chosen by consultants utilizing goal standards,” Apple mentioned in an e-mail. “Our purpose is to supply protected discovery for customers and beneficial alternatives for builders, collaborating with many to extend app visibility in quickly evolving classes.”
Musk initially known as Apple’s App Retailer and its options sections “enjoying politics.” Whereas the preliminary complaints talked about each X and Grok, Musk has shifted his consideration absolutely to Grok’s place on this state of affairs.
Plainly Apple’s partnership with OpenAI and Sam Altman, Musk’s former accomplice and venture, has induced some annoyance. The accusation principally facilities round the concept that ChatGPT is ceaselessly primary on the App Retailer, proven in featured classes, and even at the moment has a giant widget selling ChatGPT 5.
Grok by no means will get that type of editorial help on the App Retailer, and it normally sits round quantity 5 within the free app charts. Apple’s assertion emphasizing security could also be associated to Grok’s current “Mecha Hitler” meltdown and its varied options like “spicy mode.”
Love triangle: Apple, Musk, Altman
Musk’s irritation shortly shifted from Apple to Altman himself after a quick alternate on X. Altman says that OpenAI will keep targeted on making nice merchandise.
This can be a exceptional declare given what I’ve heard alleged that Elon does to control X to learn himself and his personal firms and hurt his rivals and other people he does not like. https://t.co/HlgzO4c2iC
— Sam Altman (@sama) August 12, 2025
Musk’s relationship with Apple and Altman has been placed on show earlier than. He beforehand shared misinformation about Apple and OpenAI’s deal, possible in irritation about not being provided related.
Extra drama beforehand erupted when Musk complained about Apple not utilizing his satellite tv for pc service, not promoting on X (they’ve since returned underneath authorities strain), and even fought in opposition to Apple’s 30% fee.
After Musk received offended at Altman, he used the eye on his threatened lawsuit to advertise Grok. His pinned submit on the time of publication asks customers to indicate family and friends to make use of Grok, and in one other, he asks customers to go away 5-star evaluations on the App Retailer.
No matter Musk’s large 224 million followers and determined pleas for consideration, Grok nonetheless stays at quantity 5 in free apps, and X is down at quantity 38 on Tuesday night. That’s extra of an indication of the waning energy that X holds versus any direct affect from Apple.