Key Takeaway
Elon Musk has accused Apple of anti-competitive behavior, claiming the company is suppressing his Grok AI chatbot while favoring OpenAI’s ChatGPT in App Store rankings. He labeled Apple’s practices as an “unequivocal antitrust violation” and threatened legal action, stating that Apple makes it difficult for any AI company other than OpenAI to achieve top rankings. The App Store’s rankings are crucial for app developers, and while Apple claims to use objective criteria for selection, it offers limited transparency. In response, Apple defended its platform’s impartiality, emphasizing its commitment to safe user discovery and supporting developers.
Elon Musk has accused Apple of anti-competitive behavior, alleging that the iPhone manufacturer has intentionally suppressed his Grok AI chatbot while favoring OpenAI’s ChatGPT in its App Store rankings.
The CEO of Tesla and xAI described Apple’s App Store practices as an “unequivocal antitrust violation” in a post on his social media platform X on Monday night.
Musk also warned of “immediate legal action” against the tech giant, stating, “Apple is acting in a way that makes it impossible for any AI company other than OpenAI to achieve the #1 spot in the App Store.”
As the primary marketplace for users to discover new apps across all Apple devices, the App Store’s rankings are crucial for app developers seeking to attract new users.
For its rankings, Apple claims to consider factors such as usability, positive ratings, and reviews, although the company offers limited transparency regarding its selection criteria.
Apple has already addressed Musk’s allegations, defending the platform’s impartiality.
“We showcase thousands of apps through charts, algorithmic recommendations, and curated lists selected by experts using objective criteria,” a company spokesperson stated this week.
“Our aim is to provide safe discovery for users and valuable opportunities for developers, collaborating with many to enhance app visibility in rapidly evolving categories.”
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