Elon Musk has launched a fresh legal battle, filing an antitrust lawsuit against Apple and OpenAI, accusing them of conspiring to suppress competition in the artificial intelligence space.
The 61-page complaint, filed in a Texas federal court by Musk’s xAI and X Corp., claims that Apple unfairly promotes OpenAI’s ChatGPT in the iPhone App Store, sidelining rival AI apps such as xAI’s Grok chatbot. The case follows Musk’s earlier warning that Apple was “rigging the system” against competitors.
Apple and OpenAI’s Alleged AI Conspiracy
According to the lawsuit, Apple has entered into a “hidden scheme” with OpenAI to dominate the fast-growing AI sector. The filing portrays Apple as a company threatened by the rise of AI and determined to protect the iPhone’s dominance by forming exclusive partnerships.
Musk alleges that Apple gave ChatGPT preferential treatment, boosting its visibility in the App Store rankings, while limiting the reach of other AI apps, including Grok, Perplexity, and DeepSeek. The complaint draws parallels with the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust suit against Apple, which also accused the company of restricting competition to safeguard its ecosystem.
OpenAI Accused of Prioritizing Profits Over Safety
The lawsuit also criticizes OpenAI, claiming the company has strayed from its nonprofit mission to serve humanity and is instead focused on maximizing profits. Musk argues that OpenAI’s exclusive partnership with Apple gives it an unfair advantage providing access to iPhone user data while locking out rival AI tools.
This filing follows Musk’s earlier lawsuit against OpenAI, where he alleged the company had “abandoned its founding principles.” OpenAI responded to the latest claims by calling Musk’s actions a “consistent pattern of harassment.”
Apple’s AI Struggles and ChatGPT Integration
The case highlights Apple’s late entry into the AI race. While Apple announced plans to integrate AI features directly into its devices, the company has largely relied on ChatGPT as its AI-powered answer engine for iPhones. The lawsuit argues this dependency exposes Apple’s lack of in-house AI capabilities and grants OpenAI a competitive edge.
Interestingly, industry observers note that OpenAI, with former Apple designer Jony Ive, is reportedly developing a standalone AI device that could one day rival the iPhone itself.
Also Read: OpenAI Releases ChatGPT-5: Features, Availability, and How to Use It
The Bigger Picture: Antitrust and AI Control
Musk’s lawsuit frames the Apple OpenAI partnership as an attempt by “two monopolists” to consolidate power in what could be the most transformative technology wave since the launch of the iPhone in 2007.
While Apple has yet to comment, the lawsuit adds to growing regulatory and legal pressure around AI, competition, and Big Tech dominance.
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