Elon Musk’s xAI to Sue Apple Over App Store Rankings: What’s the Buzz?

In a bold move, Elon Musk announced that his artificial intelligence startup, xAI, is gearing up to take legal action against Apple. 

Elon Musk

The billionaire claims Apple’s App Store rankings unfairly favor OpenAI’s ChatGPT, stifling competition and violating antitrust regulations. This development has sparked heated discussions in the tech world, raising questions about fairness in the digital marketplace.

According to Musk, Apple’s practices make it nearly impossible for AI companies like xAI to secure the top spot in the App Store’s “Top Free Apps” section. Currently, ChatGPT reigns supreme, while xAI’s Grok sits at fifth place, with Google’s Gemini trailing at 57th. Musk argues this is no coincidence, pointing to Apple’s partnership with OpenAI, which integrates ChatGPT into iPhones, iPads, and Macs. “Apple’s behavior is an unequivocal antitrust violation,” Musk stated on his social media platform X, though he has yet to provide concrete evidence to back his claims.

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This isn’t the first time Apple’s App Store policies have come under fire. Earlier this year, the European Union fined Apple €500 million for restricting app developers from offering cheaper deals outside the App Store. Meanwhile, a U.S. judge ruled that Apple violated court orders meant to foster competition, spotlighting ongoing scrutiny of the tech giant’s control over its platform.

Musk’s frustration extends beyond rankings. He questioned why neither X nor Grok appears in Apple’s “Must Have” section, despite X being the world’s top news app and Grok ranking high among free apps. “Are you playing politics?” Musk asked pointedly in a post on X.

As xAI prepares to challenge Apple legally, the outcome could reshape how app stores operate and level the playing field for AI innovators. With Musk’s track record of shaking up industries, this lawsuit is one to watch.