OpenAI CEO Sam Altman fired back at Elon Musk, alleging the billionaire manipulates his social media platform Twitter to benefit his companies and harm competitors, after Musk threatened legal action against Apple over App Store rankings.“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 and people he doesn’t like,” Altman wrote in response to Musk’s accusations.The exchange began when Musk got angry over Apple for allegedly not letting XAI‘s Grok app reach the top spot in App Store rankings despite its popularity. “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.”he posting, adding that “xAI will take immediate legal action.”

Musk targets Apple over ChatGPT’s App Store ranking

Musk’s complaint centers on Apple’s alleged bias in App Store curation and rankings. The billionaire claimed that Apple was refusing to feature X or Grok in the App Store’s coveted “Must Have” section, despite his assertions that X ranks as the world’s number one news app and Grok has achieved significant user adoption. Musk suggested this exclusion represents deliberate favoritism toward OpenAI, pointing to what he sees as a pattern of preferential treatment that violates fair competition principles.Current App Store data reveals the competitive landscape that sparked Musk’s ire. ChatGPT dominates the “Top Free Apps” section for iPhones in the United States, while Grok holds fifth place overall. The rankings come amid Apple’s deepening partnership with OpenAI, which has integrated ChatGPT functionality across iPhones, iPads, and Macs. This strategic alliance has raised questions about whether Apple’s platform policies inadvertently or intentionally benefit its AI partners over competitors like Musk’s xAI venture.

OpenAI CEO hints at legal counter-attack on Musk’s platform

Altman escalated the confrontation by sharing an article titled “Yes, Elon Musk created a special system for showing you all his tweets first,” effectively turning Musk’s manipulation accusations back on him. The OpenAI chief appeared to relish the prospect of potential legal proceedings, suggesting they could expose Musk’s own platform practices. “I and many others would love to know what’s been happening,” Altman wrote, hinting at possible counter-discovery that could reveal how X’s algorithm prioritizes Musk’s content and potentially suppresses competitors.The bitter exchange is the latest escalation in a years-long tech rivalry that has grown increasingly personal and public. Since Musk’s dramatic exit from OpenAI’s board in 2018, the two former collaborators have transformed from partners into fierce adversaries, clashing over everything from AI safety protocols to business ethics. Their feud intensified after Musk launched xAI as a direct competitor to OpenAI, while simultaneously criticising ChatGPT‘s development and safety measures.