Elon Musk’s xAI has sued Apple and OpenAI, alleging the companies are working in tandem to suppress competition by favoring ChatGPT over rival services like xAI’s Grok. According to Fortune, the complaint was filed Monday in Texas federal court and centers on Apple’s integration of ChatGPT as an operating system “answer engine” and its App Store treatment.
xAI’s claims against Apple and OpenAI
The suit argues Apple is unfairly prioritizing OpenAI’s ChatGPT within the App Store, hindering competitors from reaching the top position. It further alleges that Apple’s system-level integration of ChatGPT provides OpenAI with access to user data that rivals do not receive and creates incentives for Apple to elevate ChatGPT in rankings. Fortune reports the complaint characterizes Apple and OpenAI as “two monopolists” whose collaboration protects their dominance as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly central.
The filing follows Musk’s public warning two weeks earlier that legal action was imminent. In a social media post cited by Fortune, Musk wrote that Apple’s behavior “makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store,” calling it “an unequivocal antitrust violation.” The new case adds to Musk’s prior legal clashes with OpenAI, including a separate federal lawsuit last year alleging OpenAI strayed from its founding nonprofit mission in pursuit of revenue.
Responses and recent history
OpenAI’s initial reaction
OpenAI responded to the latest filing by saying the lawsuit “is consistent with Mr. Musk’s ongoing pattern of harassment,” Fortune reports. The newsletter notes OpenAI had previously countered Musk’s earlier suit with its own legal action accusing him of harassment.
Fortune also contextualizes Apple’s move to embed ChatGPT at the OS level, stating Apple adopted the approach last year after its internal AI work failed to impress. The complaint contends that this step confers advantages to OpenAI in data access and visibility that are not available to competitors like xAI’s Grok.
The 61-page complaint underscores Musk’s ongoing contention that Apple’s platform decisions, combined with OpenAI’s position, create barriers for alternative AI chatbots. Fortune’s account highlights the lawsuit’s central assertion that the companies’ alignment has competitive implications within the App Store and at the operating system layer. As presented by Fortune, the case frames the dispute around ranking, integration, and alleged preferential treatment, while noting the broader backdrop of escalating legal and competitive tensions among leading AI players.
