Apple Denies Musk’s Claims of Favoring ChatGPT Over Grok

Elon Musk is once again taking shots at Apple, this time accusing the company of giving OpenAI’s ChatGPT an unfair boost in the App Store. Apple says the allegation is flat-out wrong.

Musk’s Threat Of Legal Action

The dispute began after Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Apple had made it “impossible” for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach the top of the App Store charts. He called it “an unequivocal antitrust violation” and said his AI firm, xAI, would move toward immediate legal action.

His frustration appears tied to Grok, xAI’s chatbot, which is currently ranked fifth among free apps. ChatGPT holds the number one spot. Musk also took issue with Apple for omitting Grok and X from its curated “Must Have” section, where ChatGPT is prominently featured.

Several X users countered Musk’s narrative, pointing out that the AI app DeepSeek reached number one earlier this year, months after Apple and OpenAI’s high-profile partnership was revealed.

Apple Responds to Bias Allegations

The next day, Apple told Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman that the App Store is “fair and free of bias.” According to the company, chart positions, algorithmic recommendations, and editorial lists are determined by objective criteria, with thousands of apps featured daily.

Apple maintains that its role is to connect users with apps in a safe way while giving developers fair exposure, noting that it regularly works with creators across categories. In its view, there is no special treatment for any one developer or platform.

The Back-And-Forth With Altman

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded to Musk’s accusation, calling it “remarkable” given separate claims that Musk has adjusted X’s algorithms to benefit his own ventures. Musk and Altman—once co-founders of OpenAI—have a long record of public disputes.

This latest exchange follows Musk’s prior criticism of Apple for “playing politics” with App Store promotion. His irritation toward Altman also appears to be amplified by Apple’s high-profile placement of ChatGPT, including a dedicated widget for ChatGPT 5, while Grok has yet to receive similar editorial exposure.

A Fight Against a Bigger Backdrop

The spat comes at a time when Apple is already facing heightened regulatory scrutiny over its App Store rules. In April, a U.S. judge found Apple in violation of an earlier order to allow more competition in the App Store and referred the matter for a criminal contempt review in the ongoing Epic Games case. That same month, the European Union fined Apple €500 million for breaching the Digital Markets Act.

For now, Musk’s legal threat is just that, a threat. Whether xAI actually sues Apple could determine if this becomes another major Silicon Valley courtroom clash or just the latest volley in a long-running, very public rivalry.