Sam Altman vs Elon Musk
The tech world is buzzing again — and the spotlight is on Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and Elon Musk, founder of xAI. Their latest fight has exploded on X (formerly Twitter), and this time it’s about Apple’s App Store.
Musk says Apple is giving OpenAI’s ChatGPT an unfair advantage, making it almost impossible for other AI apps — including his chatbot Grok — to reach the top spot. He’s calling it an “antitrust violation” and has even threatened to take immediate legal action against Apple.
Musk’s Complaint About Apple
Musk points to real numbers to back up his claims. Sensor Tower data, shared by Reuters, shows ChatGPT is almost always at No. 1 on the “Top Free Apps” list in the U.S. on iPhones. His own app, Grok, is at No. 5, and Google’s Gemini is way down at No. 57.
He says Apple features ChatGPT in its “Must-Have Apps” section but ignores Grok completely. Musk also believes Apple is biased because it has a partnership with OpenAI — soon, ChatGPT will be built directly into iPhones, iPads, and Macs. According to him, that’s not fair competition.
From Partners to Rivals
Musk and Altman weren’t always enemies. In 2015, they co-founded OpenAI with the goal of building artificial general intelligence (AGI) that would help everyone. At first, it was set up as a non-profit, promising to share research openly so big tech companies wouldn’t control AI alone.
By 2018, things changed. Musk left after a reported power struggle, including a failed attempt to merge OpenAI with Tesla. Altman took over, guiding OpenAI toward a more business-focused approach, which eventually led to ChatGPT’s huge success.
Musk’s Lawsuit Against OpenAI
In March 2024, Musk reignited the rivalry by suing Altman, OpenAI president Greg Brockman, and Microsoft. He claimed OpenAI had broken its original promise to stay open-source and non-profit.
Musk argued that GPT-4 — once meant to be open for everyone — is now behind a paywall, helping Microsoft make huge profits. He believes this goes against the very mission he helped create. The case is set for trial in March 2026.
The Feud Gets Personal
This isn’t just about business anymore — it’s personal. When Musk complained about Apple’s bias on X, Altman responded by sharing an old article that suggested Musk’s tweets get boosted by the platform’s algorithm.
Altman added, “Lots has been said about this. I hope someone will get counter-discovery… many of us would love to know what’s been happening.”
Musk fired back, calling Altman a “liar” and claiming Altman’s post got more views than many of his own tweets — even though Musk has 50 times more followers. This shows just how bitter their relationship has become.
Principles or Just Competition?
Musk says he’s fighting for open-source AI, but there’s an ironic twist — his own company, xAI, is for-profit. Grok is a paid app and is also available through X Premium subscriptions.
Musk is also deeply involved in other commercial AI ventures like Tesla’s Dojo supercomputer, Neuralink, and the Optimus robot. This makes some people question whether he’s truly standing for principles or just trying to beat his competitors.
What People Are Saying
Public opinion is split into three main groups:
Team Musk – Supporters like Matt Van Swol believe Musk is standing up to unfair corporate control.
Team Altman – Fans like Nicole D say GPT-4o is the best AI tool they’ve used and appreciate how it helps people.
The Skeptics – Many believe both Musk and Altman are just using public fights as a way to promote their own products.
Apple’s Legal Challenges
Neither Apple nor OpenAI has commented on Musk’s latest claims. But Apple already has problems — it’s facing antitrust investigations in the U.S. and has been fined by the European Union for breaking digital market rules. If Musk does file a case, it could add even more legal trouble for the company.
The Bigger Picture
This fight is about more than app rankings. It’s the story of two former allies who once shared a dream but are now fighting for the top spot in AI.
Every lawsuit, social media post, and interview adds another chapter to this personal and professional war. Whether it’s truly about ethics and fairness or simply power and profits, the outcome will shape the future of AI competition for years to come.
