Sam Altman Counters Elon Musk’s App Store Bias Allegations

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has responded sharply to Elon Musk’s claims that Apple’s App Store ranking system unfairly promotes ChatGPT over competitors such as xAI’s Grok. Musk recently alleged that Apple’s policies make it “impossible” for any AI app besides OpenAI’s to secure the top spot, pointing out that Grok remains at fifth place despite its popularity. He also questioned why neither Grok nor his social media platform X appears in the App Store’s “Must Have” list.

Altman dismissed the accusations as “remarkable,” suggesting Musk is guilty of similar behavior on his own platform. He referred to reports alleging that Musk has manipulated X’s algorithm to boost his own posts and disadvantage rivals. Altman hinted that legal “counter-discovery” could reveal further details about such practices.

The exchange underscores the deepening rivalry between the two tech leaders, whose feud dates back to Musk’s 2018 exit from OpenAI. The dispute now extends beyond AI development into broader questions of platform fairness and visibility, with potential antitrust implications.

Both companies have recently unveiled major AI updates—OpenAI launching GPT-5 and Musk introducing Grok 4—intensifying competition in the market. While Musk has threatened legal action against Apple, the company has so far remained silent on the matter.

The clash highlights the growing stakes in the AI industry, where dominance on major app distribution platforms can significantly influence user adoption and market share. For now, the public sparring shows no signs of slowing.