The ongoing tech rivalry has another layer to it.
Elon Musk recently accused Apple of tilting the App Store in favor of OpenAI’s ChatGPT over his own AI platform, Grok from xAI. The claim has sparked a heated exchange with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, making this one of the most talked-about battles in the AI world right now.
Here’s what’s brewing.
Musk Calls Out Apple Over AI Rankings
Musk posted on X, accusing Apple of creating “an unequivocal antitrust violation” by making it impossible for any AI app besides OpenAI’s to hit the number one spot in the App Store.
He also questioned why X and Grok were left out of the store’s “Must Have” section despite X being the top news app globally and Grok ranking fifth overall.
“Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store… xAI will take immediate legal action,” Musk said.
At the time, ChatGPT held the top spot while Grok was fifth, with Google’s Gemini far behind at number 57. Musk suggested this was politically motivated and designed to block competitors.
Altman Fires Back
Sam Altman quickly responded, accusing Musk of doing exactly what he was complaining about. He said he had heard allegations that Musk uses X to boost his own companies while undermining rivals and people he dislikes.
“I hope someone will get counter-discovery on this, and many others would love to know what’s been happening. But OpenAI will just stay focused on making great products,” he said.
Musk Mocks Altman’s Suppression Claims
Musk mocked Altman, calling him a liar and pointing out that Altman got 3 million views on his post, which is far more than Musk has received on many of his tweets, despite having 50 times Altman’s follower count.
“The immensity of the irony of Scam Altman complaining about ‘suppression’ on this platform while simultaneously getting millions of views is too much to bear,” Musk added.
A Long-Running Feud
This marks the latest in Musk and OpenAI’s ongoing conflict. Musk had co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but left its board in 2018. He has now revived the lawsuit against Open AI and Sam Altman, accusing them of prioritizing profits over public good.
Sam Altman has pushed back against Musk’s criticisms, questioning his motives and management.
Also, in February 2025, Elon Musk’s $97.4 billion bid to take control of OpenAI failed.
Despite Musk’s criticism, ChatGPT continues to dominate app rankings. It is currently the top free app in the US App Store and also leads on Google Play. This billionaire feud is one to keep a watch on.
