Apple Disregards Musk's Bias Assertions, Insists on Just AI-Powered App Store Evaluations
In the ever-evolving world of technology, a heated debate is unfolding between Elon Musk's xAI and tech giant Apple, with allegations of antitrust violations casting a spotlight on the AI app market.
At the heart of the controversy is the claim that Apple favors OpenAI's ChatGPT in its App Store rankings, to the detriment of competitors like xAI's Grok chatbot. Musk argues that Apple's ranking system and editorial decisions make it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach the coveted number one spot in the App Store, labeling this an "unequivocal antitrust violation" and threatening legal action.
Key points of contention include the perceived manipulation of App Store rankings, editorial decisions, and the broader legal and regulatory context. ChatGPT consistently holds the top rank among free apps on Apple’s App Store, while Musk’s Grok ranks significantly lower. Musk accuses Apple of manipulating rankings to favor OpenAI, especially given Apple’s strategic partnership with OpenAI integrating ChatGPT into Apple software and devices.
Musk also criticizes Apple for excluding both his X app (formerly Twitter) and Grok from the App Store’s "Must Have" section, despite X being a leading global news app and Grok ranking highly overall. Musk suggests political bias or favoritism behind these decisions.
These accusations come amid wider scrutiny of Apple’s App Store policies. In the past, a U.S. judge ruled Apple violated court orders related to App Store competition, and the European Union fined Apple €500 million for blocking ways that direct users to cheaper outside offers. Apple is appealing these decisions.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly dismissed Musk's claims as "remarkable," pointing to allegations that Musk manipulates his own social media platform (X) to unfairly benefit his companies and harm rivals. Apple has not formally responded to Musk’s recent accusations.
The competitive landscape is diverse, with other AI apps such as Google’s Gemini chatbot and the Chinese app DeepSeek ranking much lower than ChatGPT. DeepSeek led the rankings in early 2025, while Perplexity hit the top spot in India in mid-July.
In a recent twist, Sensor Tower data and screenshots suggest that Musk's own Grok briefly held the number one free app spot in February. Today, Grok ranks fifth among free apps, and ChatGPT remains at number one.
Apple has maintained that the App Store remains fair and free of bias. The company emphasizes that app rankings are determined by charts, algorithmic recommendations, and expert-curated lists driven by objective criteria. Apple's emphasis on safe discovery may indicate a potential policy of limiting editorial support for apps that fail to meet content standards, regardless of their download rate.
This debate underscores ongoing concerns about Big Tech's control over app ecosystems and fairness toward emerging AI competitors. As the narrative unfolds, it promises to shape the future of the AI app market and potentially redefine the boundaries of competition in the tech industry.
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