Elon Musk’s xAI Prepares Legal Battle Against Apple Over AI App Rankings

Elon Musk, CEO of xAI, is gearing up for a legal showdown with Apple, accusing the tech giant of antitrust violations for allegedly favoring OpenAI’s ChatGPT over xAI’s Grok in App Store rankings. Announced on X on August 12, 2025, Musk’s threat of “immediate legal action” stems from claims that Apple’s practices make it “impossible” for rival AI apps to reach the top spot. This concise article breaks down the dispute, its basis, and potential implications, tailored for those following this high-stakes tech feud.

The Dispute: Alleged App Store Bias

Musk claims Apple manipulates App Store rankings to prioritize ChatGPT, citing its consistent #1 position among free apps and prominent placement in curated “Must-Have” lists. Grok, despite climbing to #5 overall and #2 in productivity, is absent from these lists, which Musk attributes to Apple’s 2024 partnership with OpenAI, integrating ChatGPT into iOS. He called this an “unequivocal antitrust violation” on X, arguing Apple’s control over app discovery stifles competition. Community Notes countered that other AI apps, like DeepSeek and Perplexity, topped the App Store in 2025, challenging Musk’s narrative.

Legal Basis and Challenges

xAI’s potential lawsuit may hinge on:

• Platform Discrimination: Alleging Apple unfairly promotes OpenAI due to their partnership.
• Market Power Abuse: Claiming Apple’s App Store dominance disadvantages competitors like Grok.

Proving intentional bias will be tough, requiring internal Apple data or policies. Apple insists rankings are based on objective metrics like downloads and engagement, with ChatGPT’s 28 million downloads last month dwarfing Grok’s 4 million.

Implications

• For xAI: A lawsuit could pressure Apple to adjust rankings but risks straining relations with a key platform.
• For Apple: A loss could force changes to App Store curation, amid ongoing EU and U.S. antitrust scrutiny.
• For AI Industry: The outcome may set precedents for how AI apps are distributed on dominant platforms.

Musk’s legal threat against Apple escalates his feud with OpenAI and highlights tensions over App Store fairness. While xAI’s case faces hurdles, it could reshape AI app visibility and platform policies. As the battle looms, the tech world watches closely for its impact on competition and innovation.