Elon Musk Accuses Apple of Favoritism in AI Rankings, Plans Legal Action Over App Store Practices

Elon Musk is preparing to take legal action against Apple, accusing the tech giant of anti-competitive behavior in how it manages App Store rankings, particularly favoring OpenAI's ChatGPT over rivals like xAI’s Grok.

On August 11, Musk announced on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that his artificial intelligence company xAI would initiate legal proceedings against Apple, alleging the company is violating antitrust laws by making it "impossible for any AI company other than OpenAI to reach the #1 spot on 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. xAI will take immediate legal action,” Musk posted.

Musk provided no direct evidence to support his claim. Neither Apple, OpenAI, nor xAI responded to Reuters' request for comment at the time of reporting.

ChatGPT Dominates AI App Rankings

According to Sensor Tower data, ChatGPT currently holds the top spot in the “Top Free Apps” section of the U.S. App Store, while Grok ranks fifth, and Google’s Gemini AI chatbot is placed 57th.

In a separate post, Musk criticized Apple for not featuring X or Grok in the App Store’s “Must-Have Apps” section:

“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? Are you playing politics?” Musk wrote.

Apple Faces Growing Regulatory Pressure

Musk’s allegations come amid increased regulatory scrutiny and legal battles facing Apple over its tight control of the App Store ecosystem:

In April 2025, a U.S. federal judge ruled that Apple had violated a previous court order requiring it to allow greater competition on its App Store, referring the company to federal prosecutors for potential criminal contempt, in a case involving Epic Games (developer of Fortnite).

Also in April, the European Commission fined Apple €500 million (approximately $587 million) for preventing app developers from directing users to cheaper subscription options outside the App Store – a breach of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Apple’s partnership with OpenAI—which brings ChatGPT functionality to iPhones, iPads, and Macs—has raised questions about preferential treatment and possible conflicts of interest within Apple’s app distribution model.

Could xAI’s Lawsuit Reshape App Store Competition?

If xAI proceeds with legal action, it could mark a significant escalation in the ongoing battle over App Store dominance and the role of large tech firms in shaping access to emerging AI tools.

Legal experts suggest that the case could reignite debates around antitrust enforcement in the tech sector, especially as generative AI becomes a key battleground among major players.

With Musk positioning Grok and X as viable alternatives in news and AI services, the dispute could force regulators to examine whether Apple is offering a level playing field—or favoring select partners in the most lucrative digital marketplace in the world.