Apple has rejected allegations from Elon Musk that its App Retailer discriminates in opposition to opponents, insisting the platform is free and honest of bias, in keeping with a BBC report.
The remarks come after the Tesla and X chief threatened authorized motion, accusing Apple of creating it “not possible” for apps to rival ChatGPT-maker OpenAI within the retailer.
Feud reignites with Sam Altman
Musk’s criticism adopted his renewed conflict with OpenAI chief govt Sam Altman, whom he labelled a “liar” after Altman accused him of utilizing X to “profit himself and his personal corporations”. The dispute marks the most recent escalation in a long-running feud between the 2 tech leaders, who co-founded OpenAI earlier than Musk’s departure from the agency.
Apple defends App Retailer practices
In an announcement to the BBC, Apple stated: “We characteristic 1000’s of apps by charts, algorithmic suggestions and curated lists chosen by specialists utilizing goal standards.”
Apple entered right into a partnership with ChatGPT in June 2024 however has denied any preferential remedy. The corporate famous that different AI instruments, together with DeepSeek and Perplexity, have reached high positions in App Retailer rankings since then.
Musk, nevertheless, continued to criticise the corporate on-line, questioning why neither X nor its AI chatbot Grok featured within the App Retailer’s “Should Have” part. He identified that X ranked because the primary information app globally and Grok was fifth amongst all apps, whereas ChatGPT topped the UK’s free app chart. Official rankings present Grok in third place and X absent from the highest 40.
Authorized battle set for trial
In the meantime, tensions between the xAI chief and Sam Altman escalated additional, as the general public spat unfolded in opposition to the backdrop of authorized proceedings in the US. This week, District Decide Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers allowed OpenAI’s claims in opposition to Musk to proceed to trial, together with accusations of a “years-long harassment marketing campaign” involving public remarks, social media exercise, court docket filings, and what the corporate describes as a “sham bid” for its property.
The trial is anticipated to accentuate tensions in a rivalry that has endured for over a decade, stemming from Musk’s perception that OpenAI deserted its unique founding rules.

