Updated Aug 25, 2025 - Business

Musk companies sue Apple, OpenAI, accusing them of thwarting competition

Jeffrey Cane

Man wearing a black cap with "DOGE" in uppercase letters, black jacket, with a serious expression; background includes blurred colorful vertical ribbons and a partially visible U.S. flag. — Elon Musk Photo: Bloomberg/Contributor

Elon Musk's X, formerly known as Twitter, and his AI startup xAI, have sued Apple and OpenAI, accusing the pair of having "locked up markets to maintain their monopolies and prevent innovators like X and xAI from competing."

Why it matters: The lawsuit is the latest salvo in an escalating war among Silicon Valley titans over the future of AI.

It also represents another chapter in Musk's long-running feud with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

Driving the news: The complaint, filed in the federal district court in Fort Worth, Texas, takes aim at a partnership announced last year between Apple and OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into the iPhone's operating system.

"Apple's conduct inhibits the growth of AI and super apps by allowing OpenAI to maintain its monopoly and curtail innovation and investment in generative AI chatbots that would develop into super apps that replace iPhone functionality," the lawsuit contends.
An OpenAI spokesperson said,"This latest filing is consistent with Mr Musk's ongoing pattern of harassment." A spokesperson for Apple did not respond to a request for comment.
In a post on X on Aug. 11, Musk threatened to sue Apple, saying that the iPhone maker "makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation."

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from OpenAI.

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Musk companies sue Apple, OpenAI, accusing them of thwarting competition

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