Mac strikes back as Apple files motion to dismiss xAI’s antitrust lawsuit over OpenAI partnership

Apple has filed a motion to dismiss xAI’s antitrust lawsuit that alleges the tech giant stifled AI competition through its OpenAI partnership and App Store practices. The legal battle stems from Elon Musk’s August accusations that Apple’s ChatGPT integration created unfair advantages in app rankings, preventing rival AI companies from reaching the top spot.

Apple’s defense strategy: The company argues that xAI’s lawsuit would require partnerships with “every other generative AI chatbot – regardless of quality, privacy or safety considerations, technical feasibility, stage of development, or commercial terms.”

• Apple’s lawyers describe the antitrust claims as “speculation on top of speculation” in the motion filed with a Fort Worth, Texas judge.
• The filing emphasizes that “Apple intends to partner with other generative AI chatbots” beyond OpenAI, likely referencing rumored Google Gemini integrations for Siri.

The original controversy: Musk initially claimed Apple was “behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store.”

• The dispute gained traction when DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot, briefly claimed the top App Store position in January 2025 before ChatGPT regained dominance.
• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman fired back at Musk, saying: “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.”

What’s at stake: The lawsuit challenges how major tech platforms can form AI partnerships without facing antitrust scrutiny.

• xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence company, contends that Apple’s preferential treatment of OpenAI creates barriers for competing AI companies seeking App Store visibility.
• Apple maintains its partnership decisions are based on legitimate business considerations including technical quality and safety standards.

What’s next: The court’s response to Apple’s dismissal motion remains pending, with no clear timeline for the next phase of litigation.