In a shocking twist of tech rivalry, Elon Musk has thrown down the gauntlet, threatening legal action against Apple on behalf of his AI startup, xAI. Musk claims that Apple is playing favorites with OpenAI, effectively creating an environment where no other AI company can thrive in the App Store rankings. The stakes are high, and the drama is unfolding live on social media, reminiscent of a blockbuster movie plot.

Recently, Musk took to X—formerly known as Twitter—to voice his frustrations, asserting, “Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation. xAI will take immediate legal action.” This statement has ignited a firestorm of reactions, especially from Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, who has publicly mocked Musk's claims.

Earlier the same day, Musk had posed a provocative question on X, asking why Apple refused to highlight his news app, X, or his AI chatbot, Grok, in the “Must Have” section, despite X being the top news app globally and Grok ranking fifth overall. It appears Musk is not just fighting for visibility; he’s challenging what he perceives as a rigged system.

Currently, OpenAI’s ChatGPT reigns supreme in the App Store’s “Top Free Apps” section in the US, while Grok sits comfortably at number five. The plot thickens with Apple’s partnership with OpenAI, which integrates ChatGPT into iPhones, iPads, and Macs—an alliance that some see as a conflict of interest. Neither Apple nor xAI has commented on this brewing storm.

From the sidelines, Altman did not hold back, responding to Musk’s accusations with sarcasm: “This is a remarkable claim given what I have heard alleged that Elon does to manipulate X to benefit himself and his own companies and harm his competitors.” Reports have suggested that Musk has indeed tweaked X’s algorithm to prioritize his tweets, raising eyebrows in the tech community.

The history between Musk and Altman adds another layer to this saga. They co-founded OpenAI in 2015, but after Musk attempted to take control of the organization and subsequently withdrew funding, he left the venture in 2018. Since then, tensions have escalated, with Musk launching lawsuits against OpenAI over its shift to a for-profit model, accusing them of “deceit of Shakespearean proportions.” Meanwhile, Altman has painted Musk as a jealous ex-partner unable to cope with the success of the company that moved on without him.

In the heat of this online spat, Musk fired back at Altman’s criticisms, dismissing his follower count and engagement metrics. “You got 3M views on your bullshit post, you liar. Far more than I’ve received on many of mine, despite me having 50 times your follower count!” This jab set off a back-and-forth exchange where Altman quipped about Musk's diminishing views, suggesting a “skill issue,” and cheekily asked if Musk would sign an affidavit denying any algorithmic bias.

Interestingly, users on X have pointed out that other apps besides OpenAI have managed to claim the top spot in the App Store this year. For example, Chinese AI app DeepSeek hit number one in January, and Perplexity took the lead in India’s App Store in July, showing that competition is still alive and well, even amid Musk's claims.

Amidst all this online drama, one user decided to consult X's native AI, Grok, to settle the feud. Grok’s response? “Based on verified evidence, Sam Altman is right.” It’s clear that this tech feud isn’t just a personal fight; it’s a reflection of larger issues within the industry.

As Musk's comments come at a time when regulators and competitors are sharpening their scrutiny of Apple's control over its App Store, the stakes couldn't be higher. Earlier this year, the European Union hit Apple with a staggering €500 million fine for antitrust violations, claiming its restrictions blocked developers from directing users outside the App Store. On top of that, the US Department of Justice is gearing up for its own antitrust lawsuit against Apple, alleging that it has fostered a “broad, sustained, and illegal” smartphone monopoly.