Elon Musk has sued Apple and Open AI for allegedly “joining forces to ensure their continued dominance” and thwarting competitors like Musk’s xAI.
The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, maintains that the tech firms have seized unfair advantage “in a world rapidly driven by the most powerful technology humanity has ever created.” (Read the full suit HERE.)
Musk had been threatening recent action in recent days on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter that is now owned by xAI.
Apple has recently partnered with OpenAI to integrate the latter firm’s ChatGPT into the operating system that controls iPhones, iPads and other devices.
“If not for its exclusive deal with OpenAI, Apple would have no reason to refrain from more prominently featuring the X app and the Grok app in its App Store,” the complaint asserted.
Musk has alleged on his X account that Grok, the chatbot created by xAI, has drawn positive customer reviews but has yet to merit a mention in Apple’s App Store. Earlier this month, Musk posted on X that Apple “makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store.”
The suit seeks “billions” of dollars in damages but does not cite a specific figure.
Musk launched xAI in 2023 as an AI competitor to OpenAI, Meta Platforms and China’s DeepSeek. The AI firm acquired X in an intramural transaction valued at $33 billion earlier this year. Musk bought Twitter in 2022, renaming it X and giving it a dramatic overhaul. In recent months, he has taken steps to more closely align it with the AI operation.
The lawsuit contends that Apple, realizing it had fallen behind in the arms race of AI, decided to team up with OpenAI. “Apple knows it cannot escape the inevitable – at least not alone,” the complaint says. “In a desperate bid to protect its smartphone monopoly, Apple has joined forces with the company that most benefits from inhibiting competition and innovation in AI: OpenAI, a monopolist in the market for generative AI chatbots.”
Apple has maintained in recent weeks that its App Store is “designed to be fair and free of bias.” In a statement, Open AI described the suit as being “consistent with Mr. Musk’s ongoing pattern of harassment.”
