Elon Musk Takes Apple and OpenAI to Court Over Alleged AI Monopoly

Elon Musk has reignited his battle with Silicon Valley, this time dragging both Apple and OpenAI into court. His artificial intelligence company, xAI, has filed a lawsuit accusing the two tech giants of conspiring to block competition and lock up the AI market.

The heart of Musk’s complaint

At the centre of the legal fight is Apple’s decision to integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT directly into iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Musk argues that this exclusive deal gives OpenAI an unfair advantage, while sidelining rivals like his own Grok chatbot.

In its filing, xAI claims Apple has no reason to ignore apps like Grok, other than to maintain a monopoly through its partnership with OpenAI. The lawsuit seeks billions of dollars in damages.

Musk also took his frustrations public, posting on his platform X: “A million reviews with 4.9 average for @Grok and still Apple refuses to mention Grok on any lists.”

A bigger battle over Big Tech’s power

This isn’t Musk’s first shot at OpenAI. He is already suing the company and its CEO, Sam Altman, for transforming OpenAI from the non-profit he co-founded in 2015 into a profit-driven powerhouse.

But this latest fight brings Apple into the mix a company that has faced similar antitrust headaches before. From its long-running battle with Epic Games over App Store payment systems to global regulators probing its tight control over software distribution, Apple is no stranger to accusations of stifling competition.

Legal experts suggest Musk’s case could test how courts define the AI market. Is it a standalone industry with unique rules, or simply another tech feature bundled into smartphones and cloud services? The answer could shape how future AI lawsuits are judged.

What this means for everyday users

For the average iPhone user in South Africa and around the world, the case may sound distant, but the outcome could affect how AI apps are offered and promoted in app stores. If Musk succeeds, it might open the door for smaller AI companies to compete more visibly against ChatGPT.

Social media reaction has been divided. Some praise Musk for taking on Big Tech’s dominance, calling him a “canary in the coal mine” for AI fairness. Others see it as yet another feud driven by Musk’s bruised ego, noting his history of lawsuits and public spats.

Why it matters for the future of AI

This case isn’t just about one app being hidden in the App Store. It’s about who controls the gateways to artificial intelligence and whether innovation will be left in the hands of a few powerful players or spread across a more open market.

As AI becomes as central to daily life as email or search engines, courts may now have their first real chance to decide how far Big Tech can go in choosing winners and losers.

Source:Tech Central 

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