X Corp. v. Apple Inc. (No. 4:25-cv-00914-P, N.D. Tex.), captioned after September 2026 as X Corp. and SpaceXAI v. OpenAI, is a federal antitrust suit brought by Elon Musk's social-media company X Corp. and his AI company xAI against Apple and OpenAI. Filed on August 25, 2025 in the Fort Worth Division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas and assigned to Judge Mark Pittman, it alleges that Apple and OpenAI "locked up markets to maintain their monopolies and prevent innovators like X and xAI from competing," centred on Apple's integration of ChatGPT into Apple Intelligence (Source: reuters.com) (Source: courtlistener.com). The plaintiffs resolved their claims against Apple in September 2026; the claims against OpenAI continue, with OpenAI's motion for summary judgment pending and trial set for January (Source: techpolicylaw.org) (Source: reuters.com).
Infobox
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Case | X Corp. v. Apple Inc. (later X Corp. and SpaceXAI v. OpenAI) |
| Docket | 4:25-cv-00914-P |
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division |
| Judge | Mark Pittman |
| Filed | August 25, 2025 |
| Nature of suit | 410 Antitrust (docket cause 15:1) |
| Relief sought | Damages described as "billions" and injunctive relief |
| Status | Active against OpenAI; Apple dismissed with prejudice (September 2026) |
Background
Apple's partnership with OpenAI integrated ChatGPT into the operating systems of iPhones, iPads and Macs as part of Apple Intelligence. Musk had threatened on X in August 2025 to sue Apple, writing that its conduct "makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store." At the time of filing, xAI had acquired X in March 2025, and Musk was separately suing OpenAI and Sam Altman in California over OpenAI's conversion to a for-profit structure (see Musk v. Altman (and OpenAI / Microsoft / Brockman)) (Source: reuters.com).
Claims
The complaint alleges that Apple and OpenAI conspired to thwart competition in artificial intelligence: that the Apple–OpenAI arrangement disadvantaged rival chatbot makers and reduced consumer choice, and that OpenAI maintains an unlawful monopoly in the chatbot market (Source: reuters.com) (Source: techpolicylaw.org). It alleges that "if not for its exclusive deal with OpenAI, Apple would have no reason to refrain from more prominently featuring the X app and the Grok app in its App Store," and seeks damages the plaintiffs put in the billions of dollars (Source: reuters.com).
Apple has said its integration arrangement with OpenAI was not exclusive, and both defendants deny wrongdoing. OpenAI called the filing "consistent with Mr. Musk's ongoing pattern of harassment" when it was filed (Source: reuters.com) (Source: reuters.com). Antitrust scholars quoted at filing said Apple's position in smartphones could support a tying theory, that Apple could answer that the partnership was an ordinary business choice with no duty to help rivals, and that the case could be the first in which a U.S. court decides whether there is a defined market for AI (Source: reuters.com).
Procedural history
Apple and OpenAI each moved to dismiss for failure to state a claim; the plaintiffs responded on October 21, 2025 (Source: courtlistener.com). Judge Pittman denied both motions on November 13, 2025 in a one-page order stating that the case was "more well-suited for adjudication through a motion(s) for summary judgment" (Source: theantitrustattorney.com) (Source: jdjournal.com).
On September 14, 2026, X Corp. and SpaceXAI LLC moved to dismiss their claims against Apple with prejudice, stating that they "have resolved their claims in this Action against Defendant Apple," that Apple did not oppose, and that they "do not seek to dismiss any of their claims" against the three OpenAI entities; the filing did not disclose terms (Source: techpolicylaw.org). OpenAI filed an emergency motion to compel production of the settlement. After in camera review, Judge Pittman denied it on September 17, 2026, finding that the materials "do not present information relevant to the issues to be decided at summary judgment or trial in this case," and granted OpenAI additional time for its summary-judgment motion (Source: 9to5mac.com).
OpenAI moved for summary judgment (ECF No. 402), with portions of its brief and appendix filed under seal by leave of the court granted on September 23, 2026 (Source: courtlistener.com). As reported by Reuters, OpenAI argues that SpaceX's IPO registration statement is "replete with disclosures diametrically opposed" to the competitive harm alleged, denies holding monopoly power, and states that Apple's "integration of ChatGPT appeared to be off to a slow start" by early 2025, that it cut its forecast of incremental logged-in weekly users expected from the integration, and that by the time Musk sued "it was clear that Apple's integration of ChatGPT was dramatically underperforming" (Source: reuters.com). The Financial Times reported that OpenAI cited the integration's default "off" setting as one reason for low uptake (Source: ft.com).
Current status
Active against OpenAI Foundation, OpenAI, L.L.C. and OpenAI OpCo, LLC, with OpenAI's summary-judgment motion pending and trial set for January, per Reuters on September 23, 2026. Counsel for X are Craig Reiser and Bradley Justus of Axinn and Judd Stone II of Stone Hilton; for OpenAI, Stephen DiPrima of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Ralph Duggins of Cantey Hanger (Source: reuters.com).
Relationships
- litigates: xAI — plaintiff (as xAI, later SpaceXAI), with X Corp.
- litigates: OpenAI — defendant (three OpenAI entities)
- litigates: Apple — defendant, dismissed with prejudice September 2026
- related: Apple v. OpenAI (trade secrets) — Apple's separate July 2026 trade-secret suit against OpenAI
- related: Musk v. Altman (and OpenAI / Microsoft / Brockman) — Musk's earlier suit against OpenAI
- related: Apple Foundation Models — Apple Intelligence, the integration at issue
- related: Grok (xAI) — xAI's chatbot whose App Store placement is at issue