Elon Musk Threatens Legal Action Against Apple Over ChatGPT’s App Store Promotion

Elon Musk Threatens Legal Action Against Apple Over ChatGPT’s App Store Promotion

Musk’s accusations stem from Apple’s partnership with OpenAI, which involves integrating ChatGPT into iPhones, Macs, and iPads, with plans for the model to play a major role in backing Siri for iOS 26.

RMN News Tech Desk
August 12, 2025

Elon Musk has significantly escalated tensions with Apple, accusing the Cupertino giant of antitrust violations by unfairly promoting OpenAI’s ChatGPT application within its App Store. Musk claimed in his Twitter (X) post of August 12 that Apple’s current policies make it “impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store,” calling this an “unequivocal antitrust violation”.

The CEO of Tesla and xAI has warned that his company, xAI, would take immediate legal action against Apple. This comes amidst Apple’s existing legal challenges across the globe concerning alleged unfair practices on its App Store.

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.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 12, 2025

Musk’s accusations stem from Apple’s partnership with OpenAI, which involves integrating ChatGPT into iPhones, Macs, and iPads, with plans for the model to play a major role in backing Siri for iOS 26. Musk publicly criticized Apple for not including his apps, X (formerly Twitter) or Grok, in its “Must-Have Apps” section, tweeting, “Are You Playing Politics?”.

[ Also Read: YouTube’s Intrusive Ads Spark Consumer Rights Concerns Over Information Access ]

[ Also Read: Copytrack’s Global Intimidation Campaign: Victims Accuse German Firm of Extortion and Harassment ]

He highlighted that X is the #1 news app globally, and Grok ranks fifth among all apps, while ChatGPT holds the top position among free chat apps for iPhones in the US and is featured in the “Must-Have Apps” section. Sensor Tower data, shared by Reuters, indicates that xAI’s Grok is fifth among free chat apps for iPhones in the US, significantly trailing ChatGPT.

While Musk has not provided specific evidence to support his claims, neither Apple nor OpenAI have officially commented on the matter. If Musk proceeds with legal action, it would further intensify Apple’s existing legal troubles regarding its App Store practices.

In April, OpenAI had initiated legal action against Elon Musk, co-founder of the artificial intelligence research and deployment company who departed several years ago, accusing him of engaging in “nonstop” efforts to impede its business for his own gain.

The company asserts that the Tesla boss is employing “bad-faith tactics” directed at OpenAI with the objective of securing control over leading-edge AI technology. This countersuit represents a new escalation in the intense rivalry between two prominent entities in Silicon Valley.