Musk threatens legal action against Apple for alleged unfair app practices
Elon Musk's AI Company Threatens Legal Action Against Apple
Elon Musk's AI company, xAI, has publicly threatened to sue Apple, alleging antitrust violations related to App Store discrimination against its apps. The dispute centers around the Grok AI chatbot and the X app, which Musk claims are unfairly disadvantaged in Apple's App Store rankings.
Musk's accusation is against Apple's App Store for not featuring his X platform and Grok AI chatbot apps in curated recommendation lists. He argues that this is a result of Apple's deepening partnership with OpenAI, which he believes has led to a biased App Store ecosystem.
The situation escalated when, in August 2025, Musk announced plans for “immediate legal action” accusing Apple of abusing its market power and engaging in inequitable platform curation that limits Grok’s visibility despite strong user demand.
As of the latest information from mid-August 2025, the lawsuit is being prepared but has not yet been formally filed. The case would add to ongoing regulatory scrutiny Apple faces internationally concerning App Store policies and allegations of anti-competitive practices. There are no reports that the dispute has yet been resolved or that Apple has responded publicly to this specific threat.
This represents an ongoing high-profile antitrust confrontation in the tech industry centered on platform neutrality and AI app distribution. The alleged antitrust violation is due to Apple's partnership with OpenAI on iPhone AI.
It's important to note that this is not the first time Musk has taken legal action. After taking over Twitter, Musk's company, X, filed lawsuits against several companies and an industry group for allegedly colluding to harm the platform.
In addition, it's worth mentioning that users of X have pointed out that AI apps like Deepseek and Perplexity have reached top positions in Apple's App Store. However, Musk alleges that Apple's actions constitute an "obvious antitrust violation," ensuring only OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, can reach the top of the download charts on Apple's platform.
In summary:
- Plaintiff: xAI (Elon Musk’s AI company)
- Defendant: Apple Inc. (App Store operator)
- Allegation: Anticompetitive manipulation of App Store rankings to disadvantage Grok chatbot and favor OpenAI’s tools
- Musk’s public announcement: August 11–12, 2025, promising immediate legal action
- Current status: Lawsuit threatened but not yet filed; ongoing dispute amid broader App Store antitrust scrutiny
This dispute is a significant development in the tech industry, highlighting the importance of platform neutrality and fair app distribution in the AI sector. As the situation unfolds, it will be interesting to see how Apple responds to these allegations.
[1] Source: TechCrunch, The Verge, and Reuters articles on the topic, dated August 11–12, 2025.
- The financial stakes in Elon Musk's ongoing legal dispute with Apple, regarding allegations of antitrust violations and platform bias in favor of OpenAI, are high as the outcome could significantly impact the business fortunes of his AI company, xAI, and competitor apps such as the Grok AI chatbot and X platform.
- The escalating tech industry confrontation between xAI and Apple, primarily centered on platform neutrality and AI app distribution, raises questions about the role that technology plays in selectively favoring certain businesses over others, potentially influencing the competitive landscape of the industry.
