Elon Musk’s Legal Threat to Apple Over App Rankings Ignites Feud with Sam Altman

The tech world is abuzz with the latest clash between Elon Musk and Sam Altman, a conflict that now involves Apple and a potential lawsuit. Musk’s AI company, xAI, has accused Apple of an “unequivocal antitrust violation,” alleging that the tech giant’s App Store unfairly favors OpenAI. Musk’s post on X questioned why his app, Grok, is ranked fifth while OpenAI’s ChatGPT is the number one “Top Free App,” a discrepancy he claims proves foul play.
The renewed feud between the two former business partners was a spectacle on social media. Altman responded to Musk’s claims with a snide remark, questioning the billionaire’s “remarkable” claim given his own alleged history of manipulating X to benefit his companies and harm competitors. The two have a history of animosity since Musk left OpenAI, a company he co-founded, in 2018. The feud has included two lawsuits from Musk against OpenAI, with Altman consistently portraying Musk as a bitter and petty ex-partner.
Musk’s core allegation—that Apple’s App Store is a closed shop for OpenAI—has been challenged by facts. Community notes on X have provided examples of other AI apps, such as DeepSeek and Perplexity, reaching the number one spot in different markets this year. This evidence shows that the top ranking is not exclusive to OpenAI. The irony was further magnified when xAI’s own chatbot, Grok, sided with Altman, stating that Altman was “right” in the feud based on verified evidence.
This latest threat from Musk adds to Apple’s growing regulatory challenges. The company has recently faced significant legal action, including a €500 million fine from the EU for its anti-steering rules and an antitrust lawsuit from the US Department of Justice. Musk’s public declaration adds more fuel to the fire, highlighting the intense scrutiny Apple is under regarding its control over the App Store and the potential for anti-competitive behavior.