Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI has filed a lawsuit against Apple and OpenAI, alleging the companies are engaged in a monopolistic collaboration that hinders Grok, xAI’s chatbot, from competing with ChatGPT. According to DW, the complaint centers on App Store prominence and an Apple–OpenAI partnership that xAI says skews exposure and user interactions crucial for chatbot improvement.
xAI’s claims against Apple and OpenAI
The lawsuit, filed in Texas, claims Apple prevents other chatbots from ranking above ChatGPT in the App Store, depriving rivals like Grok of valuable user engagement. xAI alleges Apple and OpenAI have “locked up markets to maintain their monopolies and prevent innovators like X and xAI from competing.” The filing argues that absent an exclusive deal with OpenAI, Apple would have no reason to refrain from more prominently featuring the Grok app.
DW reports that Apple has integrated ChatGPT into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS as part of its partnership with OpenAI. In public comments on his X platform, Musk echoed the suit’s assertions, stating: “A million reviews with 4.9 average for @Grok and still Apple refuses to mention Grok on any lists.”
Responses from Apple and OpenAI
Apple previously responded to Musk’s threat of litigation by saying the App Store is designed to be fair and not favor anyone. OpenAI, for its part, said in a statement that “This latest filing is consistent with Mr. Musk’s ongoing pattern of harassment.”
Why the case matters
OpenAI’s ChatGPT saw rapid adoption after its late-2022 launch, while xAI debuted in March 2023 and, according to DW, acquired X in March this year for $33 billion to bolster chatbot training. From xAI’s perspective, Apple’s 65% share of the US smartphone market and OpenAI’s 85% share of the AI chatbot market render their collaboration monopolistic.
Legal scholars are watching closely because the case could offer US courts an early chance to assess whether a defined AI market exists and how it should be characterized. “It’s a canary in the coal mine in terms of how courts will treat AI, and treat antitrust and AI,” Professor Christine Bartholomew of the Buffalo School of Law told the Reuters news agency, as cited by DW. The outcome could influence how platforms surface AI apps and how partnerships between major tech firms are scrutinized.
As proceedings unfold, the dispute spotlights the interplay between app distribution, training data derived from user interactions, and partnerships that shape discoverability in consumer AI tools, DW reports.
