Elon Musk Accuses Apple of Bias, Claims Grok 4 Outperforms OpenAI’s GPT-5
New York, 12th August 2025: The rivalry between Elon Musk and Sam Altman has taken a fresh turn following the launch of OpenAI’s GPT-5. Musk, the founder of xAI, has claimed that his company’s Grok 4 model is still superior to GPT-5. At the same time, he has accused Apple of showing bias in favour of OpenAI by promoting ChatGPT’s app above others on the Apple App Store.
Musk’s Warning to Apple
Musk alleges that Apple’s App Store rankings are unfairly tilted towards OpenAI, preventing other AI apps from reaching the top. He has hinted that xAI is preparing to take legal action over what he calls “discrimination” and a violation of antitrust laws.
“Due to such behaviour by Apple, it’s impossible for any AI company to replace OpenAI at the top of the App Store,” Musk said, accusing Apple of making it harder for competing AI tools to gain visibility.
According to Sensor Tower data cited by Reuters, ChatGPT remains the most popular app among iPhone users in the US. Grok ranks fifth, while Google Gemini is far behind at 57th. Notably, ChatGPT is also featured in Apple’s ‘Must-Have Apps’ section — a placement Musk argues should also include his own apps like X and Grok.
Apple–OpenAI Partnership Under Scrutiny
Apple has an ongoing partnership with OpenAI, which includes plans to integrate ChatGPT into iPhone, Mac, and iPad devices. The upcoming iOS 26 is expected to link Siri directly with ChatGPT, deepening the integration. Musk cited this partnership as a potential reason for Apple’s preferential treatment.
In a post on his social media platform X, Musk questioned why Apple excluded X and Grok from the ‘Must-Have’ category, noting that X is ranked number one in news apps and Grok sits at number five overall. He accused the company of “playing politics.”
Apple is already facing multiple lawsuits worldwide over its App Store policies. If Musk proceeds with legal action, it could add to the tech giant’s growing regulatory and legal challenges.
