AI conflict intensifies: Elon Musk warns Apple of immediate litigation
In a move that adds fuel to the antitrust debate surrounding tech giants, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, has threatened to sue Apple for alleged antitrust violations related to its App Store practices. Musk claims that Apple is hindering competition by not featuring his AI chatbot, Grok, among the top recommended apps, despite its high usage and rankings.
Musk accuses Apple of making it impossible for any AI company except OpenAI to become the top in the App Store, a move he alleges is a violation of antitrust laws. This claim follows Apple's prominent featuring of OpenAI's AI chatbot ChatGPT in its "Must-Have Apps" and its top spot in the download charts.
The conflict between Musk and OpenAI, led by CEO Sam Altman, has been ongoing. Altman has countered Musk's accusations with a jab, alleging that Musk manipulates X for his own advantage. As of now, Apple has yet to issue an official statement regarding Musk's accusations.
The legal battle between Musk and OpenAI is not the first time Apple has faced such allegations. In 2024, the EU fined Apple nearly $2 billion for unfairly favoring its own music service by forbidding rivals like Spotify from informing users about cheaper subscription options outside iPhone apps. In April 2025, Apple was fined €500 million for breaking competition rules by preventing app makers from directing users to cheaper payment methods outside the App Store. A federal judge recently found Apple violated a court injunction in an antitrust case brought by Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite.
These cases exemplify ongoing regulatory scrutiny and legal challenges Apple faces for its App Store practices, contributing to antitrust concerns. The specifics of Musk’s suit, such as legal filings or outcomes, are not yet public.
In a dramatic escalation, Musk has threatened to ban Apple devices in his companies if OpenAI is integrated at the operating system level. He has also pointed out that ChatGPT is deeply integrated into Apple's operating systems, potentially giving OpenAI an unfair advantage.
The outcome of Musk's legal threat against Apple is uncertain, but it fits into a broader context of prior rulings and fines against Apple for anticompetitive behaviors in its App Store ecosystem. As the situation unfolds, it promises to be a significant development in the ongoing debate about the role and power of tech giants in the digital marketplace.
[1] - Source for the information about the antitrust cases against Apple. [2] - Source for the information about Musk's threats and the ongoing conflict with OpenAI.
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