Why did Elon Musk accuse Apple of favouring ChatGPT?

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Elon Musk Accused Apple of Favouring ChatGPT Due to Perceived Unfair Preference on the App Store

Elon Musk accused Apple of exhibiting behaviour that makes it impossible for any AI company other than OpenAI to achieve the top ranking on its App Store, which he deemed an "unequivocal antitrust violation." This assertion was made without the provision of specific evidence to substantiate the claim. Musk further stated that his company, xAI, would initiate immediate legal proceedings in response to this perceived bias.
Allegations of Unfair Advantage

Musk's central contention was that Apple's App Store practices grant preferential treatment to OpenAI's ChatGPT, thereby disadvantaging his own AI company, xAI, and its Grok chatbot. He articulated this viewpoint by stating that Apple's conduct created an insurmountable barrier for competitors seeking the number one position within the App Store's rankings, labelling this as a clear breach of antitrust laws.
Apple's Rebuttal and App Store Practices

Apple has formally rejected Musk's allegations, asserting that the App Store is designed to operate fairly and without bias. The company explained that its platform features a multitude of applications through various mechanisms, including charts, algorithmic recommendations, and expert-curated lists, all of which are selected based on objective criteria. Apple’s stated objective is to facilitate "safe discovery" for users while simultaneously providing developers with opportunities to gain visibility for their creations.
Counterarguments and Public Scrutiny

In response to Musk's claims, users on social media platform X pointed to instances where AI companies other than OpenAI, such as China's DeepSeek AI and Perplexity AI, have indeed reached the top spot on the App Store in different regions earlier this year, including India. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also responded to Musk's accusation, calling it "remarkable" and suggesting that Musk himself engages in manipulating X to benefit his own ventures and harm competitors.
Context of Recent AI Releases and Controversies

The exchange occurred shortly after both OpenAI and xAI released new versions of their respective AI models, ChatGPT and Grok. On the day of reporting, ChatGPT was listed as the top free iPhone app, while Grok ranked seventh. App Store rankings are generally influenced by factors such as user engagement, reviews, and download numbers. Grok has also been subject to recent controversies, including a temporary suspension and accusations of misinformation, such as misidentifying images related to conflict and generating antisemitic comments.

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Why did Elon Musk accuse Apple of favouring ChatGPT?

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