Musk accuses Apple of antitrust in App Store rankings

Elon Musk accuses Apple of ranking manipulation that could tilt AI app competition.

Musk accuses Apple of antitrust in App Store rankings

Elon Musk posted on X that Apple is manipulating App Store rankings to favor rival AI apps and said xAI will pursue immediate legal action. He asked why neither X nor Grok appears in Apple’s Must Have section despite strong app performance, and he framed the issue as an antitrust violation. The Verge has contacted xAI, Apple and OpenAI for comment.

At present, Apple’s top free iPhone apps list shows ChatGPT at number one in the US, with Grok at number six. A separate 2024 study suggested X’s algorithm boosted Musk’s posts, and a June release noted Grok sometimes referenced Musk’s opinions in its responses. There is no public confirmation of a lawsuit as of now, and Apple has not issued a formal statement in this report.

The episode underscores how platform power can influence AI competition. If the allegations prove true, the dispute could sharpen scrutiny of app-store governance, inviting regulators to consider how ranking algorithms shape which AI tools reach users. It also highlights the fragility of public trust in tech platforms when policy and business interests collide. The episode comes amid broader debates about antitrust and the responsibilities of large tech ecosystems. The outcome could affect investor sentiment around both Apple and xAI, regardless of the lawsuit’s fate.

Highlights

Power dynamics in digital ecosystems will keep shaping how we measure success in AI