Tesla CEO Elon Musk is threatening legal action against tech giant Apple Inc. On Monday, Musk threatened Apple with legal action over alleged antitrust violations related to rankings of the Grok AI chatbot app, which is owned by his artificial intelligence startup xAI.
“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,” Musk wrote in a post on his social media platform X.
In 2024, Apple and OpenAI formed a strategic partnership that brought ChatGPT into the Apple ecosystem through a new suite of features called Apple Intelligence. Announced at WWDC 2024, this collaboration integrates ChatGPT, initially using GPT-4o into Siri and Apple’s system-wide writing tools on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The integration enables users to generate text, images, and ideas more naturally while maintaining privacy. Apple emphasized user control, requiring explicit consent before data is shared with OpenAI, masking IP addresses, and ensuring that no personal data is stored.
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For Apple, the partnership offered a rapid path to advanced generative AI without developing everything in-house, while OpenAI gained access to Apple’s massive global user base, boosting reach and reputation.
By mid-2025, Apple confirmed a shift to GPT-5 for upcoming iOS 26 and macOS “Tahoe” releases, promising more advanced reasoning, creativity, and natural interaction. Financially, Apple doesn’t pay OpenAI directly; instead, the benefit to OpenAI comes from distribution and prominence. Microsoft, a major OpenAI backer, is also indirectly positioned to gain. However, not all reactions have been positive—Musk criticized the deal as a privacy risk and has threatened legal action, claiming Apple gives OpenAI unfair advantages on the App Store.
Meanwhile, OpenAI’s recent acquisition of Jony Ive’s AI hardware startup “io” signals a long-term vision of expanding into AI-first devices. The Apple-OpenAI partnership reflects the fast-evolving AI landscape, where platform integration, user trust, and technological leadership are increasingly intertwined.
“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 said in another post.
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CNBC confirmed that ChatGPT was ranked No. 1 in the top free apps section of the American iOS store, and was the only AI chatbot in Apple’s “Must-Have Apps” section. The App Store also featured a link to download OpenAI’s new flagship AI model ChatGPT-5 at the top of its “Apps” section.
The ongoing tension between Musk and Apple underscores the growing competitive and regulatory pressures in the AI space. As Apple deepens its partnership with OpenAI, integrating ChatGPT into its ecosystem and prominently featuring it in the App Store, Musk’s xAI claims of bias and antitrust violations reflect broader concerns about platform control and fair competition.
While Apple emphasizes privacy and user control in its AI offerings, its preference for OpenAI’s tools raises questions about gatekeeping and access for rival AI developers. Musk’s threat of legal action highlights the high stakes as companies race to dominate the consumer AI market.