Elon Musk claims Apple makes it 'impossible' for non-ChatGPT AI apps to rank No. 1. DeepSeek would like a word.

Elon Musk has recently voiced concerns that Apple is making it exceedingly difficult for artificial intelligence applications, other than ChatGPT, to achieve the top rank on the App Store. Despite his claims, the AI app DeepSeek has successfully secured the number one position earlier this year, challenging Musk's argument. Currently, Musk's own app, Grok, developed by XAI, stands at fifth place in the free apps category, trailing behind ChatGPT, which has dominated the rankings. On social media platform X, Musk suggested that Apple is manipulating App Store rankings to favor ChatGPT, a claim that lacks substantiation. He has threatened legal action, stating that Apple's actions represent a clear violation of antitrust laws. Users on the platform have countered Musk's assertions, noting that DeepSeek's flagship model, released on January 20, swiftly climbed to number one on the App Store just six days later, unseating ChatGPT. Additionally, Perplexity’s app achieved a similar feat in India, further demonstrating that competition exists in the marketplace. Despite these instances, ChatGPT remains a formidable presence, having been downloaded over 29 million times in just a month, according to data from Similarweb. This figure surpasses the combined downloads of popular social media apps like TikTok and Instagram, although ChatGPT was not the most downloaded app of 2024, a title claimed by Temu. While Musk is keen on elevating Grok to the top of the App Store, it's noteworthy that his other application, X (formerly Twitter), recently attained the number one spot in the free News app category, showcasing the diverse landscape of app popularity amidst these discussions.