September 18, 2025 | 08:36 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla and majority shareholder of X, has filed a lawsuit against Apple and OpenAI, claiming that the tech giants are restricting competition in the artificial intelligence (AI) market.
The legal action, brought by Musk’s companies X Corp and xAI on August 25, 2025, in the Northern District of Texas, highlights growing concerns over how AI platforms are distributed and promoted on smartphones.
What’s the Lawsuit About?
At the heart of the dispute is Apple’s agreement with OpenAI to make ChatGPT the default AI chatbot on iPhones. Musk’s companies argue that this arrangement limits fair competition by making it difficult for other generative AI chatbots and super apps to gain visibility and grow.
The lawsuit claims that Apple has allegedly prioritized OpenAI’s tools in App Store rankings and slowed the review process for rival apps, reinforcing its smartphone monopoly.
The filing also states that iPhone users are effectively locked into using ChatGPT, which is embedded in the iOS 18 system update. According to Musk’s companies, this has caused significant financial losses for X and xAI, potentially amounting to billions of dollars in lost sales and a drop in company value.
Impact on Competitors
The lawsuit points out that even highly rated competitor apps, like xAI’s chatbot Grok, do not appear in the App Store’s “Must-Have Apps” section, which could limit their exposure to users.
Musk previously confirmed the lawsuit on X (formerly Twitter), claiming that Apple’s actions make it nearly impossible for AI companies outside OpenAI to reach the top of the App Store.
Currently, ChatGPT ranks as the top free app on the U.S. App Store, while Grok is in sixth place. Earlier this year, a Chinese AI chatbot, DeepSeek, briefly topped the charts, highlighting the competitive nature of the AI app market.
Musk, OpenAI, and Apple Speak Out
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has dismissed Musk’s allegations, accusing him of using X for personal and corporate gain and warning that the lawsuit could harm other competitors. Altman emphasized that OpenAI remains focused on product development and hopes the facts behind the accusations will be clarified.
Apple, meanwhile, defended its App Store policies, stressing that the platform is designed to be fair and unbiased. The company explained that apps are displayed through graphics, algorithmic recommendations, and expert-curated lists based on objective criteria.
Why It Matters for AI Users
The lawsuit raises broader questions about how major tech companies manage access to AI tools and the balance between promoting innovation and maintaining competitive marketplaces.
The outcome could affect which apps get visibility, how users experience AI on their devices, and the pace of innovation in the rapidly growing AI sector.
Faiz Zaki contributed to the writing of this article.
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