A heated public exchange has erupted between Elon Musk and Apple over alleged favoritism in the App Store. On Monday, Musk, who serves as the CTO of X and founder of AI startup xAI, accused Apple of giving OpenAI’s ChatGPT special treatment, claiming the app was being promoted in nearly all editorial sections of the App Store. Musk went as far as to call this an antitrust violation and threatened legal action against the tech giant.
Apple has now issued a strong response, refuting Musk’s allegations and emphasizing that the App Store is designed to be “free of bias.” According to a statement provided to Bloomberg, the company explained that its app rankings are determined by a combination of algorithmic recommendations and curated lists prepared by experts using objective criteria. Apple stressed that the goal of these processes is to provide users with safe discovery options and to create meaningful opportunities for developers to reach their audience in rapidly evolving categories.
The dispute began when Musk pointed out that ChatGPT held prominent positions in both the App Store charts and editorial features, while his own chatbot, Grok, was absent from similar placements. He argued that Apple’s partnership with OpenAI, which integrates ChatGPT directly into iPhones, iPads, and Macs, created an environment where competing AI tools could not succeed.
In response, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joined the conversation, countering Musk’s claims by suggesting that Musk himself has been accused of manipulating the X platform to benefit his own ventures and disadvantage competitors. The exchange quickly escalated, with Musk calling Altman a liar and pointing to the engagement on his posts as proof of his own reach and influence.
Meanwhile, App Store rankings in India paint a different picture from Musk’s assertions. Perplexity currently holds the top spot in the Free Apps chart, followed by ChatGPT in second place, and Grok sitting at the twelfth position. This suggests a more competitive environment than Musk’s accusations might imply, though the debate underscores the ongoing tension between major tech players over platform visibility and market access.
This clash comes amid growing regulatory scrutiny over Apple’s control of its App Store. In recent months, Apple has faced significant legal and antitrust challenges in both the United States and Europe, including a 500 million euro fine from the European Union for allegedly preventing developers from steering users toward cheaper options outside its ecosystem.
For now, Apple maintains that its systems are transparent and fair, while Musk appears determined to pursue legal action. The outcome could set important precedents for how tech platforms handle ranking, promotion, and competition in an increasingly AI-driven app economy.
For more updates on major tech battles, AI developments, and industry news, follow Tech Moves on Instagram and Facebook.
