There’s some significant news to share. Elon Musk’s company, xAI, has now become embroiled in a lawsuit with both Apple and OpenAI. On Monday, over in Texas court, xAI says Apple and OpenAI are both playing unfairly, locking up who can compete in artificial intelligence. The case says Apple is giving special handshakes to OpenAI, holding back other apps like Grok and the X app, and even hiding them down below in the App Store.
What’s The Fight About, Really?
So Musk’s team told judges, “Apple and OpenAI made a deal so OpenAI would stay on top, not letting newcomers like us even climb the store rankings.” If Apple didn’t get that deal, they say, Grok and X would be higher up there. Neither Apple nor OpenAI said anything first when folks asked them for comments after news broke.
Apple’s ChatGPT Deal in Devices Makes Trouble
Recently, Apple glued OpenAI’s ChatGPT to their gadgets, like iPhones and Mac computers. The other bots don’t get that kind of boost. Musk already fussed on the X app (his own) earlier in August, yelling that “Apple makes it so nobody else but OpenAI can be #1 in the App Store rankings. That’s unfair.”
Key Accusations From Musk and xAI
According to the paperwork,
- Apple and OpenAI act together, locking up the market for themselves.
- They stop other companies, xAI included, from getting any fair chance.
- Apple doesn’t want to feature xAI’s Grok AI or X but always makes space for ChatGPT.
- Apple’s tight deal with OpenAI means fewer eyes on other apps.
Musk isn’t just hollering to the judges. He wrote on his X platform, “Apple being unfair is an antitrust thing.” The court papers say, “If something doesn’t change, Apple and OpenAI will stay at the top, and everyone else will lose.”
Comebacks From Apple, OpenAI, and the Community
Initially, Apple and OpenAI did not respond publicly. But some folks on social media, plus OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman, popped in to say Musk does this kind of thing on his platforms too, making rules that favor his own companies. Apple claims their App Store “is fair, with no favor,” saying many apps can rank up high. Some users posted that even other chatbots (like DeepSeek and Perplexity) hit #1 sometimes—even after Apple and OpenAI made their deal.
Lawsuits, Rivalries, and What’s Next
This isn’t Musk’s first rodeo. He’s sued OpenAI and Sam Altman before, saying OpenAI went from nonprofit to “all-for-profit.” Meanwhile, Apple got in hot water in the past, like when Fortnite’s maker, Epic Games, dragged them to court over payments and app ranks.
The Big Picture for AI Fans & Developers
- If Musk’s team wins, it could mean more AI bots might shine at the top of the App Store.
- Apple and OpenAI risk being forced to change how apps show up.
- The case adds fuel to the Musk-Altman rivalry that’s been spicy since Musk left OpenAI years ago.
- India and world AI markets are watching closely, since App Store rankings matter a lot for startups and big tech folks.
- Grok, Musk’s chatbot, built into Tesla cars, could see more users if Musk wins.
Final
No judge’s word yet, so both sides are waiting. Elon Musk keeps saying he just wants things fair for all companies in AI. But Apple and OpenAI say, “We’re doing what’s fair for users.”
(Source: cnbc, investing, timesofindia, usnews, theverge)
