Elon Musk has initiated a new legal dispute, filing an antitrust lawsuit against both Apple and OpenAI. The lawsuit, which accuses the companies of collaborating to stifle competition in the AI industry, was filed by Musk’s xAI and X Corp. in a Texas federal court.
The 61-page complaint claims that Apple is unfairly boosting OpenAI’s ChatGPT in the iPhone App Store rankings, giving it an advantage over other AI apps, including Musk’s own Grok chatbot. This legal action follows Musk’s previous claims that Apple has been “rigging the system” to disadvantage its competitors.
Alleged AI Conspiracy Between Apple and OpenAI
In the lawsuit, Musk alleges that Apple has secretly teamed up with OpenAI to dominate the rapidly growing AI sector. The filing suggests that Apple, feeling threatened by the rise of AI technologies, is attempting to protect the iPhone’s market position by forming exclusive, preferential partnerships.
Musk asserts that Apple has given ChatGPT special treatment, making it more visible in the App Store rankings and limiting the exposure of competing AI apps like Grok, Perplexity, and DeepSeek. The lawsuit draws parallels to the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust case against Apple, which also accuses the company of engaging in anti-competitive behavior to maintain control over its ecosystem.
OpenAI’s Shift from Nonprofit to Profit Focus
The lawsuit also takes aim at OpenAI, accusing the company of abandoning its original nonprofit mission in favor of pursuing profits. Musk argues that OpenAI’s exclusive deal with Apple not only gives the company an unfair advantage by granting it access to iPhone user data, but it also locks out rival AI tools from reaching potential users.
This new filing follows Musk’s previous legal battle against OpenAI, in which he claimed that the company had strayed from its founding principles. In response, OpenAI described Musk’s legal actions as part of a “consistent pattern of harassment.”
Apple’s AI Shortcomings and Its Dependence on ChatGPT
The case also underscores Apple’s delayed involvement in the AI space. While the company has announced plans to incorporate AI features into its devices, it has largely relied on OpenAI’s ChatGPT as its default AI engine for iPhones. Musk’s lawsuit suggests that Apple’s reliance on ChatGPT exposes its lack of in-house AI capabilities, thereby giving OpenAI a competitive edge.
Industry experts note that OpenAI, in collaboration with former Apple designer Jony Ive, is reportedly working on a standalone AI device that could eventually rival the iPhone itself.
A Broader Discussion: Antitrust and AI Dominance
Musk’s lawsuit paints the Apple-OpenAI partnership as an attempt by two tech giants to consolidate their influence over the AI industry, which could represent one of the most significant technological shifts since the iPhone’s launch in 2007.
While Apple has yet to publicly respond, this legal action adds to the mounting regulatory and legal challenges facing big tech companies, particularly around issues of AI, competition, and market dominance.
