Musk Escalates Feud with OpenAI, Threatens Apple Over App Store Coverage
Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), reignited his public feud with OpenAI and took aim at Apple this week, accusing the tech giant of blocking competition within its App Store. Musk claimed Apple’s policies make it “impossible” for apps to compete with ChatGPT – raising legal threats if Apple does not change its stance.
In a post later pinned to his X profile, Musk questioned why Apple failed to promote X or his AI chatbot Grok in the App Store’s “Must Have” section. “X is the #1 news app in the world and Grok is #5 among all apps,” he asserted. Despite this, X does not appear in Apple’s current top 40 list, while ChatGPT remains the most downloaded free app in the UK, with Grok ranking a close third.
Apple has not responded to requests for comment.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Fires Back
In response, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, called Musk a “liar,” responding to Musk’s earlier allegation that Altman accused him of using X to advance his own interests. The criticism reflects deep-rooted tensions between the two billionaires, who co-founded OpenAI but now stand at odds.
Their feud dates back to OpenAI’s early days as a not-for-profit focused on artificial general intelligence. Musk later criticized its shift toward profitability and the shareholding influence of Microsoft. In March 2024, he filed a lawsuit accusing OpenAI of abandoning its founding principles – only to drop it later. OpenAI, meanwhile, filed a countersuit in April, accusing Musk of deploying “bad-faith tactics” to slow their AI development.
In a dramatic escalation, Musk also made a $100 billion bid to purchase OpenAI in February – a move swiftly rejected by its board.
What’s Next for Musk, Apple & OpenAI?
The clash underscores the high-stakes competition in AI. Musk’s legal threat to Apple follows Apple’s partnership with ChatGPT announced in June 2024, although Apple maintains it does not favor one app over another. Despite the tension, other AI apps like DeepSeek and Perplexity have also reached top App Store rankings, suggesting a dynamic and competitive landscape.
As Apple evaluates its policies, and the rivalry between Musk and Altman deepens, the outcome could reshape market access and user experience in AI innovation.
