Charles Esther
Tesla and xAI founder Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have once again clashed publicly, exchanging accusations on X.
The long-time rivals reignited tensions after Musk threatened to sue Apple for alleged “antitrust violations” involving OpenAI’s ChatGPT app store ranking.
Musk’s Accusation Against Apple
On Monday, Musk claimed Apple was giving ChatGPT preferential treatment in the App Store.
He alleged that the ranking system made it “impossible” for any AI company other than OpenAI to reach the top spot, calling it a clear antitrust breach.
Musk vowed that xAI would “take immediate legal action.”
Altman Fires Back
Altman responded by accusing Musk of using his control of X to disadvantage competitors and promote his own companies.
He linked to a 2023 Platformer article alleging Musk created a system to prioritize his tweets.
Altman added that he hoped “someone will get counter-discovery” into the matter so the truth could be revealed.
Shift to View Count Rivalry
Seven hours later, Musk pivoted to a new angle — social media views.
He pointed out that Altman’s post criticizing him had gained 3 million views, more than many of Musk’s own posts, despite Musk having 50 times more followers.
Altman Challenges Musk to Swear Under Oath
On Tuesday, Altman called on Musk to sign an affidavit stating he had never altered X’s algorithm to harm rivals or help his companies.
Altman promised to apologize if Musk could truthfully make that declaration.
He also mocked Musk’s lower engagement, calling it a “skill issue” or possibly the result of bots.
Musk Responds With Insults
In reply, Musk labeled Altman “Scam Altman” and accused him of lying effortlessly.
The exchange intensified with reposts and further jabs from both sides.
Tensions Rooted in Years-Long Rivalry
Musk and Altman co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but Musk left the board in 2018.
Since then, Musk has frequently criticized OpenAI, especially over its partnership with Microsoft, which he claims violates its original nonprofit mission.
Altman’s Earlier Dismissal of Musk
Just days earlier, Altman told CNBC he doesn’t “think about him that much,” a remark reminiscent of a popular “Mad Men” quote.
This came after Musk claimed his AI model Grok 4 Heavy was already outperforming GPT-5.
Legal Battles Continue
In 2024, Musk sued OpenAI over its Microsoft deal but withdrew the case in June before refiling it two months later.
Representatives for Musk, Altman, and Apple have not yet commented on the latest dispute.
AI Race and Market Competition
Both leaders are pushing to create advanced AI systems, with OpenAI integrating GPT-5 into Microsoft products and Musk continuing to develop xAI’s Grok models.
The feud reflects broader competition in the fast-growing AI industry.
David Awoyode