Apple Faces Backlash from Musk in Heated Battle with OpenAI CEO
Apple is in the spotlight again, and not for a new iPhone launch or software update. This time, it is at the center of a fiery public feud between Elon Musk, the billionaire behind xAI and X, and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. Musk has accused Apple of showing unfair favoritism to OpenAI’s ChatGPT in the App Store rankings, which he says harms competition and violates antitrust laws. The accusations have quickly spiraled into a very public war of words online.
Musk’s explosive accusations against Apple
On August 12, 2025, Musk took to X to post a blunt statement:
“Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation. xAI will take immediate legal action.”
This was followed by another tweet aimed directly at the App Store team:
“Hey @Apple App Store, why do you refuse to put either X or Grok in your ‘Must Have’ section when X is the #1 news app in the world and Grok is #5 among all apps? Are you playing politics?”
Musk believes Apple’s editorial choices in the App Store’s featured sections are deliberately pushing ChatGPT ahead of other AI competitors, including his own chatbot, Grok.
Can other AI apps even reach #1?
Musk’s claims raise a key question: is Apple’s App Store ranking system truly biased? While Musk insists the platform is unfair, data shows that other AI tools have reached the top. For example, the Chinese AI app DeepSeek climbed to No. 1 in January 2025, and Perplexity held the top spot in India in July. Grok itself briefly surged to No. 1 earlier in the year after Musk made Grok-3 free to use.
These examples complicate Musk’s claim, suggesting that while Apple might favor certain apps for editorial promotion, the ranking system itself may not be entirely locked.
Sam Altman fires back
Sam Altman wasted no time responding to Musk’s accusations. He posted on X:
“This is a remarkable claim given what I have heard alleged that Elon does to manipulate X to benefit himself and his own companies and harm his competitors and people he doesn’t like.”
Altman’s tweet hinted at long-standing rumors about Musk’s influence over X’s algorithm. His implication was clear: Musk criticizing Apple for favoritism while allegedly shaping X to his own benefit is hypocritical.
The conversation escalated when Musk responded with a personal attack:
“Scam Altman lies as easily as he breathes.”
And in another heated tweet, Musk accused Altman of manipulating public perception:
“You got 3M views on your bulls— post, you liar, far more than I’ve received on many of mine, despite me having 50 times your follower count!”
Why is Apple in the middle of this feud?
There are several reasons why Apple has become the battleground for this Musk-Altman clash:
- Deep integration with OpenAI – In 2024, Apple integrated ChatGPT into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, giving OpenAI’s chatbot direct access to millions of users. Musk publicly called this move a “security violation” and even threatened to ban Apple devices from his companies.
- Ongoing regulatory scrutiny – Apple has already faced heavy criticism over its App Store policies. The EU fined the company €500 million for anti-competitive practices earlier this year, and U.S. courts have challenged its commission model. Musk’s accusations come at a time when regulators are already looking closely at Apple’s control over app distribution.
- Editorial influence – Musk’s main complaint is not about technical rankings but about curated sections like “Must Have” apps, where Apple decides what users see first. That editorial influence can shape app success dramatically.
Could this spark legal trouble for Apple?
Musk says xAI is prepared to take legal action against Apple. If such a lawsuit moves forward, it could force a deeper investigation into how Apple chooses which apps to feature. For developers, the stakes are high, featured placement on the App Store can mean millions of new downloads, while being excluded can slow growth dramatically.
This could also set a new legal precedent about whether platform owners can promote certain apps they partner with, especially when those apps compete with others in the same category.
A battle of egos or a real competition issue?
Some industry observers see this feud as more about personalities than policies. Musk and Altman have a long and complicated history. Musk was one of OpenAI’s co-founders but left in 2018 after disagreements about the company’s direction. Since then, tensions have occasionally surfaced in public.
However, others argue that Musk is raising an important question about fairness on major digital platforms. If Apple gives preferential treatment to certain apps, even subtly, it could disadvantage smaller developers and reinforce the dominance of established players.
Public reaction to the spat
Social media has lit up with reactions to the Musk-Altman fight. Some users side with Musk, saying Apple’s control over the App Store is too strong and needs reform. Others defend Apple and accuse Musk of using this dispute to promote Grok.
A popular reply under Musk’s tweet read: “You built X into your own personal PR machine and now you’re mad at Apple for doing the same?” This comment, like many others, suggests that the public sees parallels between Musk’s alleged control over X’s algorithm and Apple’s control over app visibility.
The bigger picture
This battle is unfolding at a time when AI is rapidly becoming a core part of consumer technology. Whoever controls distribution platforms like the App Store holds significant power over which AI products succeed. That’s why Musk’s accusations, whether entirely accurate or not, have gained so much traction.
For Apple, the risk is reputational as well as legal. If regulators decide Musk’s claims have merit, the company could face new restrictions on how it promotes apps. For xAI and OpenAI, the fight is about visibility, influence, and capturing user attention in an increasingly crowded AI marketplace.
Final thoughts
The feud between Elon Musk and Sam Altman has put Apple in a hot seat it didn’t ask for. What began as a complaint about App Store rankings has escalated into a public exchange of insults, legal threats, and pointed questions about platform fairness.
Whether this turns into a landmark antitrust case or fades as another episode in the ongoing Musk–Altman rivalry remains to be seen. But one thing is certain, the conversation about Apple’s influence over app visibility is far from over.
FAQ’S
Elon Musk was not formally “kicked out” of OpenAI. He left the board in 2018 after disagreements over the company’s direction and concerns about conflicts with Tesla’s AI work.
Apple has not officially pulled out of OpenAI, but reports suggest tensions arose over AI integrations and potential bias toward OpenAI’s technology.
Musk accused Apple of favoring OpenAI in its App Store policies and claimed the company was limiting fair competition in the AI space.
Musk reportedly offered Apple a chance to integrate his AI chatbot Grok into its devices, provided the terms were competitive and unbiased compared to OpenAI’s offerings.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has stated in past interviews that he identifies as Jewish.
No, Musk co-founded X.com, which later became PayPal, but he sold his stake in 2002 when eBay acquired the company.
Musk believes OpenAI has drifted from its original mission of open-source, transparent AI and has become too commercially driven.
Many analysts say Apple fell behind in AI innovation because it focused more on hardware and privacy features rather than pushing large-scale AI research.
Google is facing stronger competition from OpenAI due to ChatGPT’s rapid adoption and OpenAI’s ability to launch new features faster than Google’s AI teams.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and not financial advice. Always conduct your research.