Artificial Intelligence

Musk Sues Apple Over App Store AI Rankings

AUG 12 2025·Updated AUG 26 2025

Story

Above: A photo illustration depicting the Apple App Store page for Grok AI. Image credit: Cheng Xin/Getty Images

The Facts

Elon Musk announced on Monday that xAI "will take immediate legal action" against Apple, after accusing the company of violating antitrust regulations in the management of the App Store's rankings, with the artificial intelligence startup filing a lawsuit against Apple and OpenAI in federal court in Texas.
Elon Musk on X
TRT Global
Reuters
ChatGPT holds the top position in the Apple App Store's "Top Free Apps" section for iPhones in the United States, while xAI's Grok chatbot ranks sixth according to current data.
Apple
Musk claimed that Apple prevents any AI company besides OpenAI from reaching the number one spot in App Store rankings, and called this behavior an "unequivocal antitrust violation" without providing evidence.
Elon Musk on X
CNN
The Times (UK)
In a pinned post on X, Musk also questioned whether Apple was "playing politics," tagging the company to ask why neither X nor Grok were in the App Store's "Must Have" section despite their respective popularity.
Elon Musk on X
Musk's legal action over ChatGPT's ranking escalates an ongoing feud between the businessman and OpenAI, which Musk opened legal proceedings against in February 2024 for allegedly violating its non-profit mission to develop AI "for the benefit of humanity broadly."
Courthouse News
CNBC
Apple, meanwhile, has recently faced multiple antitrust challenges, with the company fined €500 million ($570 million) for breaching European Union digital competition laws and being ruled to have violated a U.S. federal court order requiring more competition on the App Store in April.
Reuters
EuroNews

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Apple's blatant favoritism toward OpenAI creates an unfair playing field. The tech giant's partnership with OpenAI gives ChatGPT preferential treatment in rankings and editorial features while systematically excluding competitors like Grok from prime promotional spots. This monopolistic behavior violates basic antitrust principles.

Elon Musk on X

Narrative B

Musk's accusations not only lack credible evidence but are laughably hypocritical given his alleged manipulation of the X platform to benefit his companies while directly harming competitors. In the meantime, OpenAI will continue working on what has made it so successful, creating new and exciting products for the market.