Elon Musk’s X Corp and SpaceXAI have resolved their antitrust claims against Apple, ending one part of a lawsuit that accused the iPhone maker of unlawfully working with OpenAI to limit competition in smartphones and generative artificial intelligence.
In a filing in federal court in Texas, X and SpaceXAI moved to dismiss the claims they brought against Apple last year. The filing did not explain why the claims were being dismissed or say whether Apple and Musk’s companies had settled.
The move removes Apple from the legal dispute, but Musk’s companies said they would continue pursuing claims against OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT and a co-defendant in the case.
READ: Apple’s first foldable iPhone may cost more because of a $250 Samsung display (September 12, 2026)
Dispute centered on Apple’s OpenAI partnership
The lawsuit alleged that Apple violated antitrust laws by integrating OpenAI’s ChatGPT into Apple Intelligence features on iPhones and other Apple devices.
Musk’s companies argued that Apple’s relationship with OpenAI effectively shut out competing artificial intelligence providers. The allegations put the spotlight on the growing competition among technology companies to establish their AI tools as the default services on consumer devices.
Apple and OpenAI have denied wrongdoing. Apple has previously maintained that its integration of OpenAI technology was not exclusive.
The case had gained significance because it brought Musk’s expanding AI ambitions into direct conflict with Apple and OpenAI, two major players in the technology industry.
Legal battle with OpenAI continues
Although the claims against Apple are being dismissed, the broader case against OpenAI remains active.
Musk has been a prominent critic of OpenAI and its leadership, while his AI company, xAI, has developed Grok as a competitor to ChatGPT. The dispute has increasingly extended beyond AI models into questions about access to technology platforms, distribution and the competitive position of AI companies.
The lawsuit therefore remains relevant to the broader fight over how AI services reach consumers and how technology companies structure partnerships around emerging AI products.
Musk’s xAI acquired X last year in a deal that valued the social media company at about $33 billion, strengthening the connection between Musk’s social-media platform and his AI business.
READ: SpaceXAI debuts Grok 4.6 model to challenge rival frontier systems (August 13, 2026)
Apple faces broader AI competition
Apple has been working to expand its artificial intelligence capabilities through Apple Intelligence, while also relying on outside AI technology for certain functions.
Its partnership with OpenAI has given users access to ChatGPT through Apple’s ecosystem, creating a distribution channel for OpenAI while giving Apple access to generative AI capabilities.
For competing AI companies such as xAI, access to major consumer platforms can be strategically important as the industry moves from developing AI models to securing widespread adoption.
The dismissal of the Apple claims removes one legal front in that competition, but Musk’s continuing case against OpenAI keeps the broader dispute alive.
For now, the court filing provides no public explanation for why Musk’s companies chose to resolve their claims against Apple or whether the parties reached a private settlement.