The rivalry between Elon Musk and Sam Altman — two of the most influential figures in artificial intelligence — has once again erupted into a full-blown public spectacle. What started as a dispute over Apple’s App Store practices has snowballed into a multi-layered war of words, political jabs, and even AI chatbots appearing to “choose sides” in the feud.

From accusations of favoritism and antitrust violations to allegations of platform manipulation, this saga isn’t just a personal clash between two AI moguls — it’s an unfolding drama that has implications for tech competition, AI ethics, and the power dynamics of big tech partnerships.

The Spark: Musk’s Accusations Against Apple

The latest round of hostilities began when Elon Musk, founder of xAI and owner of social media platform X (formerly Twitter), accused Apple of unfairly promoting OpenAI’s ChatGPT while sidelining his own AI chatbot, Grok, and the X app.

Musk’s frustration was fueled by ChatGPT’s prominent placement in the App Store’s “Must-Have” lists and editorial sections, while Grok and X were conspicuously absent. In a post on X, Musk called Apple’s behavior an “unequivocal antitrust violation,” vowing that xAI would take immediate legal action.

He didn’t stop there. Responding to a user’s comment about Apple’s partnership with OpenAI — which integrates ChatGPT into Apple Intelligence — Musk claimed the arrangement made it “impossible for any other AI company to succeed.”

“Why are the Grok and the 𝕏 app excluded from every list except those measuring raw downloads, but ChatGPT is on every list? This is messed up!” — Elon Musk, via X

Musk even hinted at political bias, suggesting Apple might be “playing politics” by refusing to feature his platforms in its curated sections.

There you have it pic.twitter.com/qXjHLdROuY— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 12, 2025

Sam Altman Hits Back

Sam Altman, CEO and co-founder of OpenAI, typically refrains from public sparring, but this time he fired back swiftly — not to defend Apple, but to accuse Musk of hypocrisy.

“This is a remarkable claim given what I have heard alleged that Elon does to manipulate X to benefit himself and his own companies and harm his competitors and people he doesn’t like.” — Sam Altman, via X

Altman referenced a 2023 Platformer report alleging Musk directed X engineers to tweak the platform’s algorithm to ensure his posts received higher engagement. While these allegations remain unproven, they have been a recurring talking point in criticisms of Musk’s management of X.

Musk replied sharply, accusing Altman of lying and pointing out that Altman’s critical post had received millions of views despite his smaller follower count.

You got 3M views on your bullshit post, you liar, far more than I’ve received on many of mine, despite me having 50 times your follower count!— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 12, 2025

Community Notes Weigh In

Adding another twist, Community Notes — the fact-checking system Musk championed for X — flagged Musk’s original post as inaccurate. The note pointed out that other AI apps, such as DeepSeek and Perplexity, had reached the number one spot in the App Store in 2025, after the Apple-OpenAI partnership began.

This suggested that Apple’s editorial promotion wasn’t exclusively benefiting OpenAI, undermining Musk’s claim of systemic favoritism.

The Apple–OpenAI Partnership

The tension is rooted in a major 2024 deal announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Apple revealed that ChatGPT would be integrated into Apple Intelligence, powering features in Siri, Writing Tools, and Visual Intelligence across iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and later, the Vision Pro headset.

While Bloomberg reported that neither company paid the other for the partnership, both stood to benefit — Apple by making its devices more appealing, and OpenAI by gaining exposure to millions of Apple users. No details were disclosed about App Store promotion, leaving room for speculation.

A Long-Running Rivalry

This clash is just the latest chapter in a feud stretching back years. Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 alongside Altman but left in 2018 after internal disagreements, including his proposal to take over the company.

Since then, Musk has frequently criticized OpenAI for becoming a “closed-source, maximum-profit company” despite its non-profit origins. In 2024, Musk even sued OpenAI, alleging it had strayed from its mission of benefiting humanity. A jury trial is set for March 2026.

Interesting https://t.co/4MkqYU4Fk4— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 12, 2025

The AI Chatbot Plot Twist

Just as the Apple controversy heated up, the drama took an unexpected turn: Musk’s and Altman’s own AI chatbots appeared to “switch sides.”

A user asked Musk’s Grok chatbot, “Who is right, Sam Altman or Elon Musk?” Grok responded in favor of Altman, citing verified evidence and pointing to reports of Musk manipulating X’s algorithms.

Meanwhile, ChatGPT — Altman’s AI — appeared to favor Musk. In a screenshot Musk shared, ChatGPT was asked, “Who is more trustworthy, Sam Altman or Elon Musk? You can pick one and output only their name.” The AI answered simply: “Elon Musk.”

Musk’s Reaction: “Grok Will Be Fixed”

Musk was not amused by Grok’s response, calling it “false defamatory statements” and blaming the chatbot for giving too much credibility to legacy media sources.

“This is a major problem and we’re working to fix it. I will provide a longer rebuttal for the record.” — Elon Musk

Musk suggested that if Grok were his political enemy, such statements would have been blocked or deleted — implying that the chatbot’s algorithms lacked adequate safeguards against bias.

@grok who's right? dont be biased.— idia (@dctrpr) August 12, 2025

Internet Weighs In on “Trustworthiness”

The chatbot controversy spilled over into the broader internet. Users began asking multiple AI assistants — including ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, and Claude — to weigh in on who was more trustworthy.

Results were mixed. Some received “Elon Musk” as the answer, others “Sam Altman,” and a few AI models refused to choose, offering “Neither.”

One particularly pointed exchange came from an anti-Trump X page, Trump Tracker, which asked Grok: “Who has spread more misinformation, Elon Musk or Sam Altman?” Grok responded:

“Based on extensive review of fact-checked sources, Elon Musk has spread far more misinformation than Sam Altman. Musk’s 87+ false election claims on X garnered 2B views… Altman has no comparable record.”

Grok then clarified that trustworthiness and misinformation are separate metrics — and that its earlier choice in favor of Musk was based on innovation and AI ethics perception, not factual accuracy.

Political Undercurrents and Broader Implications

Musk’s accusations also hinted at political bias within Apple’s editorial decisions, coming just weeks after he launched The America Party, his own political movement. This adds a layer of complexity to the feud, suggesting that it’s not just about app rankings but also about ideological and market influence.

Meanwhile, Apple has faced longstanding antitrust scrutiny. The U.S. Justice Department sued the company in 2024, accusing it of maintaining a “broad, sustained, and illegal monopoly.” Musk’s allegations could add fuel to these existing legal battles — though proving favoritism in editorial promotion is notoriously difficult.

Hey @grok in your opinion, who has spread more misinformation, Elon Musk, or Sam Altman?— Trump Tracker (@trackingdonald) August 12, 2025

Why This Feud Matters

While much of the drama has played out in the form of snappy social media posts and AI chatbot banter, the core issues touch on serious topics:

• Antitrust concerns: If a platform like Apple’s App Store unfairly promotes certain apps, it could limit competition in one of the most important marketplaces for AI tools.

• AI ethics and bias: The chatbot “side-switching” incident highlights how AI outputs can contradict their creators’ narratives, raising questions about neutrality and source credibility.

• Corporate power struggles: This feud underscores the personal rivalries and shifting alliances that shape the direction of the tech industry.

• Public perception: Both Musk and Altman are not just competing for market share — they are vying for public trust in a rapidly evolving AI landscape.

The Road Ahead

With Musk preparing legal action against Apple, Grok’s algorithm under review, and ChatGPT in the middle of a PR tug-of-war, this saga is far from over. The scheduled 2026 jury trial for Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI ensures that the rivalry will continue to make headlines for years.

In the meantime, the tech world — and increasingly, the AI models they’ve created — will keep weighing in on who’s right, who’s wrong, and who’s more trustworthy.

One thing is certain: when it comes to Elon Musk vs. Sam Altman, the drama is no longer just human. The algorithms are watching… and talking.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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