Elon Musk has renewed his criticism of Apple, accusing the company of showing favoritism toward OpenAI’s ChatGPT in the App Store over competing AI apps like Grok and X. Musk argued that this is a clear example of App Store bias and warned that he could pursue antitrust action. Apple, in comments to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, rejected the allegation, stating that the App Store is fair and free of bias.
Apple’s statement is as following:
The App Store is designed to be fair and free of bias. We feature thousands of apps through charts, algorithmic recommendations, and curated lists selected by experts using objective criteria.
Our goal is to offer safe discovery for users and valuable opportunities for developers, collaborating with many to increase app visibility in rapidly evolving categories.
Apple maintains that its app discovery process relies on a combination of algorithmic recommendations, category rankings, and expert-curated lists. According to the company, these systems are built to ensure safe discovery for users and meaningful visibility for developers in fast-changing categories. Apple insists that these mechanisms use objective criteria and do not favor any one developer or app.
This exchange follows our previous coverage on Musk’s claims that Apple’s ranking and promotion systems give an unfair advantage to certain apps. At the time, Musk highlighted that Grok had climbed to fifth place overall and second in the productivity category but had not been featured in the prominent “Must Have” section. Meanwhile, ChatGPT continued to receive notable editorial placement, which Musk believes gives it an advantage in visibility and user acquisition.
Business Insider noted that despite Musk’s accusations, other AI apps such as DeepSeek and Perplexity have also reached high positions in the App Store charts this year. This has been cited as evidence by some observers that the marketplace remains competitive for AI tools outside of OpenAI’s ecosystem. For Apple, the high visibility of ChatGPT reflects strong consumer demand, not preferential treatment.
The dispute also spilled onto X, where OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded to Musk’s criticism with a short, pointed remark. Musk quickly replied, continuing the public exchange. The interaction drew further attention to the rivalry between the two executives and underscored the competitive and sometimes personal nature of the AI industry’s biggest players.
The disagreement raises broader questions about how neutrality can be maintained in platforms that blend algorithmic recommendations with human editorial curation. Even if chart positions are based on downloads and engagement, the selection of featured apps can influence which services get further exposure. Musk’s criticism suggests that exclusion from curated lists, even with strong chart performance, can be seen as a form of competitive disadvantage.
For now, Musk’s threat of legal action has not materialized into a formal lawsuit. However, his comments contribute to a growing debate over transparency in digital storefronts, especially as AI applications become more competitive. Apple has reiterated that its focus is on providing a safe and high-quality experience for users while ensuring developers have fair opportunities to reach audiences. Whether this dispute develops into a legal challenge will likely depend on whether Musk can present evidence of intentional favoritism rather than differences in editorial judgment.
