On 12 August 2025, Apple stated that its App Store is “fair and free of bias” after Elon Musk accused the company of favouring OpenAI’s ChatGPT over other AI apps.

Musk’s claims have drawn attention to App Store ranking practices and potential antitrust issues.

What happened

Elon Musk, CEO of xAI, criticised Apple’s App Store rankings, alleging that the system makes it nearly impossible for any AI app other than ChatGPT to secure the top position.

He described the situation as an antitrust violation and suggested that legal action could be taken immediately.

Apple responded by stating that its charts, algorithm-driven recommendations, and curated lists are determined by objective criteria aimed at helping users safely discover apps.

Musk also alleged that Apple has refused to include his AI chatbot Grok, or the X app, in the App Store’s “Must Have” section. Grok has reportedly reached as high as fifth place in rankings, while X currently sits around thirty-second place.

However, market data shows that other AI apps have also reached the top position. DeepSeek was number one in January 2025, and Perplexity AI topped charts in India in July.

This suggests that it is still possible for other AI apps to gain the highest ranking.

The dispute comes at a time when Apple is already facing increased regulatory scrutiny of its App Store policies in the European Union and the United States.

The company is involved in ongoing antitrust lawsuits, including one with the U.S. Department of Justice and another with Epic Games.

Our thoughts

This case highlights how visibility within app marketplaces remains a critical factor in tech competition. Whether Apple’s ranking system is truly impartial or subtly influenced by business relationships is something regulators and industry watchers will continue to monitor.

Do you think Apple’s App Store treats all apps equally, or do big platforms have too much control over app visibility? Share your thoughts. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates.