Musk's X Corp and xAI Move to Dismiss Apple from Antitrust Lawsuit, Keep Targeting OpenAI

SentiSense · Published Sep 14, 2026, 11:22 AM ET · Updated Sep 28, 2026, 2:45 AM ET

Elon Musk's X Corp and SpaceXAI (the AI company formerly known as xAI) have filed motions to dismiss the Apple portion of their antitrust lawsuit, effectively ending the dispute with the iPhone maker. The companies will continue pursuing claims against OpenAI, alleging preferential treatment of its ChatGPT app on the App Store. The filings were made in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, but no settlement details were disclosed.

Elon Musk's X Corp and SpaceXAI, the AI company formerly known as xAI before its 2026 rebrand following SpaceX's acquisition, filed motions on September 14 to dismiss the Apple component of their antitrust lawsuit, stating that the iPhone maker favored OpenAI's ChatGPT over their own AI applications on the App Store. The move resolves the dispute with Apple while preserving the core allegation against OpenAI, which remains a defendant in the case.

The filings were submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, where the original suit was lodged in August 2025. While the court documents are sparse, they indicate that Musk's entities are withdrawing their claims against Apple without explaining whether a settlement was reached or why the strategy changed.

Industry observers note that the lawsuit originally accused Apple of suppressing apps like SpaceXAI's Grok in favor of OpenAI's offering. By dropping Apple, X Corp and SpaceXAI retain pressure on OpenAI, potentially leveraging the case to address perceived App Store bias against their chatbot technology.

The development underscores the evolving legal battle over app store practices and AI competition. Stakeholders will watch for any further motions against OpenAI and for possible regulatory scrutiny of App Store policies, as the case may set precedents for how major platforms handle competing AI services.