Apple and Elon Musk are clashing again, this time over allegations that the App Store unfairly promotes ChatGPT while sidelining Musk’s Grok AI and X app.
TLDR:
- Elon Musk accused Apple of favoring ChatGPT over his apps in the App Store rankings
- Apple strongly denied the bias, stating rankings are driven by algorithms and expert curation
- Sam Altman pushed back on Musk, alleging Musk manipulates X’s algorithms for personal gain
- Apple faces wider antitrust scrutiny, making the timing of this dispute more sensitive
What Happened?
Elon Musk has accused Apple of unfairly boosting OpenAI’s ChatGPT in the App Store while excluding his own apps, Grok and X, from key sections like “Must Have.” Apple has denied these claims, stating its platform is free of bias, with rankings based on objective criteria including user data, expert curation, and algorithmic recommendations. The dispute has added more fuel to the ongoing rivalry between Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
Apple and Musk Face Off Over App Store Rankings
Elon Musk triggered the controversy by publicly alleging that Apple is suppressing competition in the AI space, making it “impossible” for any AI company other than OpenAI to top the App Store charts. He pointed to ChatGPT’s prominent placement, especially in the Must Have section, as unfair given that Grok had recently climbed to fifth place overall and topped productivity in some regions.
Hey @Apple App Store, why do you refuse to put either 𝕏 or Grok in your “Must Have” section when 𝕏 is the #1 news app in the world and Grok is #5 among all apps?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 11, 2025
Are you playing politics? What gives? Inquiring minds want to know. https://t.co/3wenLZGtwG
Musk’s frustration was amplified by Apple’s alleged refusal to feature either X or Grok in key curated categories. Despite X being the top news app and Grok showing strong engagement, neither made it to the Must Have list, while ChatGPT maintained its dominance in free app downloads, especially in the UK.
Apple, however, stood firm in its response. In statements to both Bloomberg and the BBC, the company emphasized that its app ranking systems are built to support safe and fair discovery for users and developers alike. It cited the use of editorial reviews, curated lists, and algorithms that rely on objective measures, not preferences or partnerships.
“We feature thousands of apps through charts, algorithmic recommendations and curated lists selected by experts using objective criteria,” Apple stated.
Deepening Feud With Sam Altman and Context Behind the Claims
Adding heat to the situation, Sam Altman responded by flipping the narrative. He accused Musk of doing the exact thing he complains about, linking to reports that Musk has manipulated the X algorithm to make his own posts and companies more visible. Altman even challenged Musk to sign an affidavit affirming he has never altered X’s feed rankings for personal gain.
This is a remarkable claim given what I have heard alleged that Elon does to manipulate X to benefit himself and his own companies and harm his competitors and people he doesn’t like. https://t.co/HlgzO4c2iC
— Sam Altman (@sama) August 12, 2025
This latest spat also rekindles the long-standing rivalry between Musk and Altman. Once co-founders of OpenAI, the two have since engaged in lawsuits, social media jabs, and even a failed $100 billion buyout attempt by Musk earlier this year. Altman has previously stated that Musk is motivated by his “own agenda,” rather than a desire to uphold OpenAI’s original mission.
Meanwhile, OpenAI has faced its own share of criticism from Musk, who claims the company abandoned its not-for-profit roots to chase profits alongside investor Microsoft.
Apple’s Timing Problem Amid Legal Scrutiny
This public dispute comes at a sensitive time for Apple, which is already facing an antitrust lawsuit from the US Department of Justice. The tech giant is also appealing a major ruling from the Epic Games case that could reshape its App Store policies. Accusations of favoritism, whether true or not, are likely to draw more regulatory scrutiny.
Apple’s repeated use of the term “safe discovery” may also be a subtle nod to concerns around Grok. The app has recently drawn backlash for offensive content, celebrity deepfakes, and sexually explicit features. Such controversies may have influenced Apple’s editorial decisions, even if download stats suggest popularity.
What TechKV Thinks
I think this whole drama is less about app rankings and more about ego. Musk’s frustration might be genuine, but when your app is riddled with controversies, you cannot expect Apple to put it on a pedestal. Apple curates the App Store not just based on downloads, but on user safety and content standards. And honestly, if Grok is serving up deepfakes and adult content, that’s a red flag.
Altman’s pushback also adds a juicy layer of irony. Musk slamming Apple for favoritism while allegedly tweaking his own platform’s algorithm sounds like a pot-meet-kettle situation. The Apple vs Musk vs Altman saga might just be heating up, but it reflects a deeper issue: the race to control user attention in the booming AI app space.
