Bias Allegations In a new flashpoint in the escalating tech feud Elon Musk has fired off accusations claiming Apple’s App Store unfairly favors OpenAI specifically ChatGPT at the expense of his own platforms X and xAI’s Grok. He’s even threatening legal action. Apple however responded swiftly and firmly rejecting the claims as baseless.
What Musk Is Claiming
Musk took to X, asserting that despite X being #1 among news apps and Grok ranking in the top five overall, Apple has “refused to put either X or Grok in the Must Have section. He labeled the practice an unequivocal antitrust violation and warned that xAI is preparing to sue Apple.
Apple Responds: Key Messaging
Apple responded via a statement shared with Bloomberg and covered by multiple outlets. The company emphasized:
- The App Store is designed to be fair and free of bias.
- App visibility is driven by charts algorithmic recommendations and editorially curated lists grounded in objective criteria.
- Their core aim remains providing safe discovery for users while offering visibility to developers even in rapidly evolving categories.
Evidence Contradicting Musk’s Claims
Contrary to Musk’s assertions, independent data shows other AI apps have indeed topped the App Store charts weakening his exclusivity argument. For example:
- DeepSeek hit #1 overall in January 2025.
- Perplexity AI achieved the top spot in India’s App Store by July 2025.
These instances suggest other AI players have also reached peak visibility.
Musk and Altman’s Escalating Feud
The situation quickly spiraled into a broader tech feud:
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman fired back at Musk, pointing out alleged algorithm manipulation by Musk on X to favor his own ventures a line of criticism that intensified the drama.
- This clash underscores deeper tensions born over years: Musk’s early role at OpenAI his departure lawsuits disagreements over AI ethics and Apple’s rising alignment with OpenAI.
Implications & What to Watch
- Antitrust Concern: Musk’s allegations could fuel further scrutiny into Apple’s content curation and platform gatekeeping especially as global regulators pay increasing attention to tech monopolies.
- Developer Impact: The exchange raises key questions around app visibility algorithm transparency and fairness among platform stakeholders.
- Next Moves: Watch closely for any actual legal filings from xAI Public or regulatory follow ups or editorial responses from other AI app makers.
Conclusion
Apple has explicitly denied allegations of favoritism toward ChatGPT insisting its App Store is built around fairness objective criteria and user safety. Counter evidence such as DeepSeek and Perplexity’s chart topping performances further weakens Musk’s claims. As the Musk Altman rivalry intensifies industry and regulatory eyes are now firmly fixed on how AI app distribution, and platform power intersect in today’s digital economy.