Musk accuses Apple, OpenAI of stifling AI competition in lawsuit
Elon Musk Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Apple and OpenAI
By MICHAEL LIEDTKE, Associated Press
Elon Musk made headlines on Monday with the filing of an antitrust lawsuit targeting Apple and OpenAI, alleging that the two tech giants are working together to stifle competition in the field of artificial intelligence.
According to the 61-page complaint filed in a Texas federal court, Musk accuses Apple of unfairly favoring OpenAI and ChatGPT in the iPhone’s app store rankings for top AI apps. This follows Musk’s recent claims on social media that Apple was manipulating the system to boost its own AI offerings at the expense of competitors like his own xAI’s Grok chatbot.
The lawsuit, filed by xAI and another of Musk’s corporate entities, X Corp., seeks monetary damages and a court order to stop what Musk alleges are illegal tactics being used by Apple and OpenAI.
The legal action paints a picture of Apple and OpenAI as monopolists joining forces to maintain their dominance in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. Musk contends that Apple sees AI as a threat to its future success and is colluding with OpenAI to protect its lucrative iPhone business.
The complaint also accuses OpenAI of prioritizing profits over public safety as it seeks to capitalize on the success of its ChatGPT technology. This mirrors a separate lawsuit filed by Musk last year, alleging that OpenAI had strayed from its original mission as a nonprofit research lab.
Apple has not yet responded to the lawsuit, while OpenAI has accused Musk of harassment in connection with the legal action. The crux of the lawsuit revolves around Apple’s decision to incorporate ChatGPT into the iPhone as an AI-powered “answer engine” due to shortcomings in its own AI technology.
Despite the late entry into the AI race, Apple’s partnership with OpenAI has raised concerns about potential anticompetitive behavior in the AI app store rankings. Other AI apps have intermittently reached the top spot in rankings, but Musk’s lawsuit alleges that ChatGPT has been unfairly elevated due to the exclusive partnership.
As the legal battle unfolds, the future of AI innovation and competition in the tech industry remains uncertain. Musk’s lawsuit against Apple and OpenAI underscores the high stakes involved in the race to develop cutting-edge AI technologies.
Published on: August 25, 2025 at 12:36 PM MDT
