Elon Musk has launched another public battle. This time, it’s with Apple. Musk claims Apple favors ChatGPT, leaving his apps, Grok and X, at a disadvantage.Grok currently ranks sixth in the App Store’s free apps list. X, formerly known as Twitter, is number one in the news category and number 38 overall.
Despite these rankings, Musk insists Apple is stifling competition by refusing to promote his platforms.Apple recently added ChatGPT into iOS. It placed a large “Try Now” button on the App Store’s front page. That button does not appear for Grok. This decision seems to have pushed Musk over the edge.
Musk argues that Apple favors ChatGPT in both visibility and promotion. He claims the App Store snubs Grok and X in curated sections. Essential app lists include competitors like TikTok, Tinder, and Snapchat, but not X or Grok.He says this behavior shows bias. He adds that Apple’s actions limit user choice and hurt competition.
Musk insists users should choose their preferred AI. He wants Grok to be an option, not just ChatGPT. But it remains unclear whether Apple ignored xAI or if xAI refused Apple’s privacy terms.
Even though Grok has had some recent PR issues, it still holds strong rankings. Its popularity suggests users find value in it, despite Apple’s silence. However, Apple has not commented publicly on why it excluded Grok.
Musk also slammed Apple’s “Must-Have Apps” section. He claims Apple favors ChatGPT and deliberately leaves Grok out. X, despite its strong news category position, does not appear in curated social or news lists.
Apple likely avoids promoting Musk’s apps due to past controversies. Apple has clashed with Musk several times before. These include disputes about advertising, App Store fees, and satellite service use.
Still, Apple has the right to feature whichever apps it wants. No law forces Apple to promote every platform equally. The free market gives Apple editorial control over its App Store content.
Whether Musk’s antitrust threats go anywhere depends on the courts. Judges and legal interpretations will determine if Musk’s case has merit. Until then, Musk continues his public crusade, claiming Apple favors ChatGPT at the cost of innovation and fairness.
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