Elon Musk criticized Apple’s App Store practices on Monday, alleging bias toward OpenAI. The xAI Holdings founder, which includes the Grok AI team and X social network, claimed Apple prevents apps other than OpenAI from topping the App Store charts, a key visibility goal for developers. In a pinned X post, Musk questioned if Apple is “playing politics” by sidelining his products and threatened “immediate” legal action.
Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation.
Apple and OpenAI representatives didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
Musk added that xAI will take legal action against what he deemed an antitrust violation. Apple and OpenAI — whose ChatGPT is the most-downloaded free iPhone app in the US, ahead of Grok at No. 5 — have a partnership around AI built into the latest iPhones. Musk, 54, has a long-running feud with OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman, which dates back to disagreements that led to their split after the two founded OpenAI together.
“Why do you refuse to put either X or Grok in your ‘Must Have’ section when X is the #1 news app in the world and Grok is #5 among all apps? Are you playing politics?” Musk said in another post…
Prior to his legal threats against Apple, Musk had celebrated Grok surpassing Google as the fifth top free app on the App Store. When contacted by CNBC, xAI did not immediately respond to a request for further information on a potential lawsuit.
CNBC confirmed that ChatGPT was ranked No. 1 in the top free apps section of the American iOS store, and was the only AI chatbot in Apple’s “Must-Have Apps” section. The App Store also featured a link to download OpenAI’s new flagship AI model, ChatGPT-5 at the top of its “Apps” section.
Musk did not provide evidence to support his claim. Apple, OpenAI, and xAI did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
ChatGPT currently holds the top spot in the App Store’s “Top Free Apps” section for iPhones in the U.S., while xAI’s Grok ranks fifth and Google’s Gemini chatbot sits at 57th.
ChatGPT also leads the rankings on the Google Play Store, according to Sensor Tower data.
Apple has a partnership with OpenAI that integrates ChatGPT into iPhones, iPads and Macs.
MacDailyNews Note: Currently on Apple’s App Store “Essentials – Top Apps Right Now, the following listing appears:
• ChapGPT • Amazon Prime Video • Google gemini • Snapchat • TikTok • LinkedIn • Bumble Daitng App • Peacock TV • HBO Max • Paramount+
Several more apps finish out the list on which xAI’s Grok does not currently appear. Grok also does not appear on Apple’s App Store’s “Must-Have Apps” list despite holding the No.5 position on the “Top Free Apps” chart.
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