lipflip – Elon Musk’s AI venture, xAI, is challenging Apple in court over what it claims is anti-competitive favoritism. The dispute centers on Apple’s partnership with OpenAI and the continued dominance of the ChatGPT app on the iPhone App Store charts. Musk argues this relationship creates an uneven playing field that prevents rivals like xAI’s Grok from reaching the top.
The controversy escalated in August 2025 when Musk publicly criticized Apple’s practices on his social platform, X. He claimed Apple was “making it impossible” for any AI app besides ChatGPT to rank number one. Although Apple denied the allegation, xAI filed a formal antitrust lawsuit soon afterward.
Apple has now responded with a motion to dismiss the case, according to Bloomberg. In the filing, Apple’s lawyers argue that xAI’s claims rely entirely on speculation. The document says the lawsuit would require Apple to work with every other AI chatbot, regardless of quality or security concerns. Apple insists it has acted lawfully and maintains full discretion over its partnerships.
The filing also suggests Apple’s decisions are based on technical feasibility, commercial value, and user safety. Apple rejects the idea that success on its App Store should be guaranteed for any developer. The company emphasizes that many apps—AI or otherwise—rise or fall based on merit.
Apple Suggests More AI Partnerships Are on the Horizon
In the same court filing, Apple hints that its partnership with OpenAI is not exclusive or permanent. The document states it is “widely known” that Apple plans to collaborate with other AI companies. This likely refers to ongoing talks with Google to integrate its Gemini AI tools into Apple’s ecosystem, including future versions of Siri.
This new legal conflict highlights broader concerns about fairness and access in the AI app ecosystem. While ChatGPT remains dominant, other apps like DeepSeek have briefly claimed the top spot. DeepSeek’s temporary rise in January 2025 challenges the idea that ChatGPT’s lead is unshakable.
Still, Musk remains vocal about his concerns. He sees Apple’s alignment with OpenAI as a barrier to innovation and fair competition. In contrast, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman pushed back strongly. He accused Musk of hypocrisy, noting Musk has allegedly manipulated his own platform, X, to benefit his companies and disadvantage competitors.
Apple’s motion to dismiss could set a legal precedent for how tech giants manage partnerships in emerging sectors like generative AI. If the court allows the case to proceed, it may force Apple to reveal more about its internal ranking and partnership criteria.
As AI tools continue to evolve and expand, this case could influence how developers access platforms and reach users. Whether the court sides with Apple or Musk, the outcome may shape the rules of AI competition on mobile devices for years to come.