Apple has responded to Elon Musk’s accusations that the App Store is “favoring ChatGPT.” The company stated that the App Store algorithms are fair and neutral, stating that all apps are ranked based on objective criteria and prioritize user experience.
Apple management responds to Elon Musk
In posts on the X platform, Musk accused Apple of “monopoly” and announced that he would take legal action. He also alleged that Apple discriminated against the X platform and Grok, the artificial intelligence assistant developed by his company xAI, by excluding it from the App Store’s “Must Have” list. Musk argued that Grok has achieved widespread popularity among users and currently ranks fifth overall.
Apple, however, has taken a clear stance against these accusations. According to the company’s statement, App Store rankings are determined by factors such as user safety and app quality. It emphasized that developers are provided equal opportunities for promotion and visibility. The statement emphatically stated that no app is given special treatment.
It was noteworthy that Musk did not provide any concrete evidence for his claims. Furthermore, despite the partnership announced in recent months between Apple and OpenAI, examples have shown that different AI apps can reach the top of the App Store in different countries.
In January, the China-based app DeepSeek surpassed ChatGPT to top the App Store’s free app list. In July, Perplexity rose to first place in India. These examples demonstrate that the rankings are not solely in OpenAI’s favor.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also joined the discussion. Altman described Musk’s accusations as “extraordinary.” He also stated that he had received reports that Musk manipulated content on his platform, X. Musk responded, “Scam Altman lies as easily as breathing.”
The tension between the two figures also resonated widely on social media. Musk continued his criticism by comparing the high view rates of Altman’s posts to his own, saying, “If someone with a low follower count like you gets more views than me, there’s a problem.” Altman responded to this outburst by saying, “It’s a talent issue.”
While it remains unclear whether Musk’s accusations against Apple will trigger new legal action, Apple’s position and App Store data currently indicate no concrete evidence of discrimination. The dispute is seen as a reflection of the long-standing rivalry between some of the tech world’s most powerful figures.
