Elon Musk Challenges Apple Over Alleged App Store Ranking Manipulation

Elon Musk has accused Apple of unfairly manipulating App Store rankings to disadvantage his AI company, xAI, and its Grok chatbot. In a series of posts on X, Musk claimed Apple intentionally excluded both X and Grok from its “Must Have” section, despite their high rankings in news and AI categories. According to Musk, this behavior creates an antitrust concern by giving preferential visibility to rival AI apps, particularly OpenAI’s ChatGPT. While Musk has threatened legal action, no evidence or official lawsuit filings have yet been confirmed.

Apple App Store bias claims from Elon Musk

Musk argued that Apple’s App Store policies make it nearly impossible for AI companies other than OpenAI to top the charts. At the time of his claims, ChatGPT was the most downloaded free iPhone app in the US, with Grok ranking sixth. Historical data shows other AI apps, such as China’s DeepSeek AI, have briefly overtaken ChatGPT, contradicting Musk’s claim that Apple’s system locks out competitors. Apple has yet to respond publicly, leaving the situation clouded by speculation and heated public exchanges.

Musk’s own platform manipulation controversies

Critics have pointed out the irony in Musk’s accusations, as his own platform, X, has faced allegations of algorithm manipulation. A 2024 study suggested X’s algorithm was altered to boost Musk’s posts, and earlier reports indicated his account was given platform-wide promotion. Grok has also faced scrutiny for allegedly reflecting Musk’s personal opinions in its answers to politically sensitive questions, raising further questions about bias and fairness.

Ongoing tension between Musk, Apple, and OpenAI

Musk’s dispute with Apple and OpenAI is part of a longer history of conflict. Once an OpenAI co-founder, Musk has since criticized its shift toward a profit-driven model, filed lawsuits, and even attempted a failed multibillion-dollar buyout. The tension escalated after Apple integrated ChatGPT into its devices, prompting Musk to threaten a ban on Apple products in his companies. With legal action looming, this latest App Store ranking battle could intensify the rivalry between tech giants in the competitive AI landscape.