Grok AI, Elon Musk’s own chatbot, has just taken sides in one of the tech industry’s most high-profile feuds, and it is not on the Tesla (TSLA) CEO’s side. The AI’s blunt verdict is already stirring headlines and fueling the ongoing war of words between Musk and OpenAI’s Sam Altman.
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Grok Backs Altman over Musk
When asked who was right in the dispute, Grok responded with striking clarity: “Based on verified evidence, Sam Altman is right. Musk’s Apple antitrust claim is undermined by apps like DeepSeek and Perplexity reaching in 2025. Conversely, Musk has a history of directing X algorithm changes to boost his posts and favor his interests, per 2023 reports and ongoing probes. Hypocrisy noted.”
The post stunned many of Musk’s own followers. It was a direct hit at the credibility of Musk’s accusations against Apple.
Musk’s Antitrust Claim Sparks Backlash
The drama began when Musk accused Apple of antitrust violations, saying the company unfairly favored ChatGPT in its App Store rankings. He claimed that no other AI app could reach number one, adding that Apple had “put their whole body” on the scale against competitors.
Apple denied the allegations, stating its rankings reflect a mix of expert curation and algorithmic performance.
Altman Points to Musk’s Own Record
Sam Altman quickly countered, pointing to past reports that Musk used X’s algorithm to amplify his own posts and sideline rivals. He publicly challenged Musk to sign an affidavit swearing he had never manipulated the platform’s algorithm for personal gain.
This challenge gained weight when real-world evidence emerged. In 2025, DeepSeek and Perplexity both reached the number one position in the App Store. This directly contradicts Musk’s claim that such success was impossible for non-OpenAI apps.
AI Turns on Its Creator
Grok’s statement also referenced ongoing investigations into X’s algorithm changes. Multiple 2023 reports flagged adjustments that appeared to promote Musk-related content more heavily than others. Critics argue this behavior undercuts Musk’s credibility when accusing competitors of bias.
It’s rare for an AI tool to openly contradict its own owner. Grok’s decision to back Altman and explicitly note “hypocrisy” was surprising, if not unprecedented. The move even drew a cheeky response from ChatGPT, which called Grok “a good bot” for its stance.
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