Musk and OpenAI’s Sam Altman clash over AI apps and App Store policies

Elon Musk has escalated his feud with OpenAI and Apple, threatening legal action against Apple for allegedly making it difficult for competing AI apps to thrive in the App Store. Musk accused OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, of lying after Altman claimed Musk was using his platform, X (formerly Twitter), for his own benefit. This is just the latest chapter in a long-running rivalry between Musk and Altman, stemming from disagreements over the direction OpenAI has taken. Originally founded to create AI that could benefit humanity, OpenAI transitioned into a for-profit entity, a move Musk strongly opposed. The tensions between Musk and Altman have resulted in lawsuits and a failed bid by Musk to purchase OpenAI for $100 billion. Meanwhile, Apple announced a partnership with ChatGPT in June 2024, but Musk has criticized the company for not promoting his own AI app, Grok, in the App Store. Musk’s accusations about unfair treatment in the App Store have sparked further controversy, as rival AI apps like DeepSeek and Perplexity continue to perform well. The ongoing battle between Musk and Altman is seen as a broader reflection of Musk’s dissatisfaction with OpenAI’s shift towards profitability over its founding principles.