The AI War Expands: Musk Threatens Apple Lawsuit, Reignites Feud with Altman

The rivalry between Elon Musk and Sam Altman has escalated into a new battle, with Musk threatening to sue Apple over its App Store policies. Musk’s AI company, xAI, is accusing Apple of an “unequivocal antitrust violation,” alleging that the company is favoring OpenAI and preventing competitors from reaching the top spot. He pointed to the fact that OpenAI’s ChatGPT is number one while his own Grok app is number five. This public spat on X marks another contentious chapter in their history.
The public exchange on X was a series of pointed remarks. Altman responded to Musk’s claims by questioning the billionaire’s own alleged manipulation of the X platform’s algorithm, a claim that has been widely reported. The animosity between the two has been a long-standing issue, stemming from Musk’s departure from OpenAI in 2018. The feud has included two lawsuits from Musk against OpenAI, with Altman consistently framing Musk as a bitter ex-partner.
Musk’s claim that Apple’s App Store is unfairly biased has been challenged by information from the community on X. Users pointed out that other AI apps, including DeepSeek and Perplexity, have reached the number one spot in different markets this year. This factual evidence undermines Musk’s central argument that the top ranking is exclusively for OpenAI. The irony was further highlighted when xAI’s own chatbot, Grok, sided with Altman when asked about the dispute, stating that “based on verified evidence, Sam Altman is right.”
Musk’s legal threat against Apple comes at a time of increased regulatory scrutiny on the tech giant. Apple is already facing an antitrust lawsuit from the US Department of Justice and a massive fine from the EU over its App Store policies. Musk’s public allegations add another high-profile voice to the chorus of critics, further complicating Apple’s legal and regulatory battles.