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Could Elon Musk’s Stand Against Apple Finally Create a Fairer App Store for Everyone?
Elon Musk, the head of the artificial intelligence company xAI, has threatened to take legal action against Apple. He believes Apple is unfairly managing its App Store, giving a major advantage to its competitors, particularly OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. This situation highlights a growing conflict over fairness and control in the digital marketplace.
The Core of the Disagreement
The central issue is how apps are featured and ranked in Apple’s App Store. Musk argues that Apple intentionally promotes ChatGPT in key sections like “Must Have” and “Essential” lists, while his own AI chatbot, Grok, is overlooked. This happens even when Grok is one of the most downloaded apps, recently ranking fifth or sixth among all free apps in the United States.
Musk claims this isn’t a coincidence but a deliberate strategy by Apple. He states that Apple’s actions make it almost impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to secure the top spot in the App Store. He has called this an “unequivocal antitrust violation,” suggesting that Apple is breaking laws designed to ensure fair competition. As of mid-August 2025, xAI had not yet appeared to have filed an official lawsuit.
Apple has denied these accusations. The company stated that its App Store is designed to be “fair and free of bias” and that featured app selections are made by experts using objective criteria. Apple also pointed out that other AI apps have reached the number one position before, challenging Musk’s claim that the top spot is reserved only for OpenAI.
A Pattern of Accusations
This is not the first time Apple has faced criticism over its App Store practices. Other major companies have raised similar concerns, leading to legal and regulatory battles around the world.
Epic Games
The creator of the popular game Fortnite sued Apple in 2020, arguing that Apple’s rules and 30% commission on sales were anti-competitive. The lawsuit resulted in a ruling that forced Apple to allow developers to inform users about alternative payment methods outside the app.
Spotify
The music streaming service has also filed complaints, which prompted investigations by the European Union into Apple’s App Store policies.
Government Scrutiny
Regulators in the European Union have already forced Apple to allow alternative app stores (sideloading). The U.S. Department of Justice is also pursuing its own antitrust case against Apple, alleging the company uses its power to stifle competition and innovation.
These cases show a widespread concern that Apple holds too much power over the software distributed on its devices. A potential lawsuit from a high-profile figure like Musk could add significant pressure to these ongoing efforts.
Why This Fight Matters
The conflict between xAI and Apple may seem like a battle between billionaires and tech giants, but it has real-world implications. The App Store is the main gateway for millions of people to find and download software for their iPhones and iPads. If one company has the power to favor certain apps over others, it can influence what technologies become popular and successful.
For developers, getting featured by Apple can lead to a massive spike in downloads, something that few can achieve through advertising alone. If this “shelf space” is not awarded based on merit, it could discourage smaller companies from innovating and competing. For users, it could mean less choice and exposure to new and potentially better applications.
Musk’s threat comes at a time when his company, xAI, is growing rapidly and competing directly with OpenAI and Google in the AI sector. Securing a prominent position in the App Store is seen as critical for winning over users and enterprise clients, making this fight about more than just rankings; it’s about a multi-billion dollar opportunity.