Musk's xAI Plans Legal Action Against Apple Over App Store Rankings

TLDR

Table of Contents

Elon Musk’s xAI plans legal action against Apple over alleged App Store antitrust violations
ChatGPT ranks #1 in App Store’s “Top Free Apps,” while xAI’s Grok ranks #5
Musk claims Apple makes it impossible for AI companies besides OpenAI to reach top rankings
Apple has a partnership with OpenAI integrating ChatGPT into iPhones, iPads, and Macs
Apple faces ongoing scrutiny over App Store control from regulators and competitors

Elon Musk announced Monday that his artificial intelligence company xAI will pursue legal action against Apple. The billionaire accused the tech giant of antitrust violations related to App Store rankings.

Musk made the announcement on his social media platform X. He claimed Apple’s behavior makes it impossible for AI companies other than OpenAI to reach the number one spot in the App Store.

“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,” Musk wrote. “xAI will take 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.
xAI will take immediate legal action.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 12, 2025

The xAI founder did not provide evidence to support his claims. Apple, OpenAI, and xAI have not responded to requests for comment from Reuters.

Current App Store rankings show ChatGPT holds the top position in the “Top Free Apps” section for iPhones in the United States. xAI’s Grok chatbot ranks fifth in the same category.

Google’s Gemini chatbot sits much lower at 57th place. ChatGPT also leads rankings on the Google Play Store according to Sensor Tower data.

Musk expressed frustration about X and Grok’s absence from Apple’s “Must Have” section. He questioned whether Apple was “playing politics” in an earlier post Monday.

“Hey @Apple App Store, 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?” Musk wrote.

Apple’s OpenAI Partnership

Apple has an existing partnership with OpenAI that integrates ChatGPT into Apple devices. The integration covers iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers.

This partnership could explain ChatGPT’s strong performance in App Store rankings. The collaboration gives OpenAI’s chatbot built-in access to Apple’s ecosystem.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently discussed the company’s AI investments during an earnings call. Cook said Apple is growing its AI investments and reallocating employees to focus on the technology.

Regulatory Scrutiny

Musk’s complaints come as Apple faces increased scrutiny over its App Store practices. Regulators and competitors have raised concerns about Apple’s control over the platform.

A U.S. judge ruled in April that Apple violated a court order requiring greater App Store competition. The case was brought by Fortnite maker Epic Games.

The judge referred Apple to federal prosecutors for a criminal contempt investigation. This ruling represents a major legal challenge for the company.

The European Union also fined Apple 500 million euros in April for antitrust violations. The EU said Apple’s restrictions prevented app developers from directing users to cheaper deals outside the App Store.

These restrictions violated the Digital Markets Act according to EU regulators. The fine represents one of the largest penalties imposed on Apple by European authorities.

Apple shares traded slightly higher in premarket trading following Musk’s announcement. The stock showed minimal reaction to the threatened legal action.

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