Elon Musk, the prominent CEO of Tesla and xAI, has voiced significant concerns regarding the recently announced artificial intelligence partnership between Apple and Alphabet. Musk characterized this collaboration as an excessive accumulation of influence for Google, given its already dominant position in the mobile operating system and web browser markets with Android and Chrome. His critique underscores the intensifying competition within the AI sector and raises questions about market fairness and the potential for a monopolistic environment.
Musk's apprehension stems from the integration of Google's Gemini AI into Apple's revamped Siri, which is set to become a core component of Apple Intelligence. This development is seen as a considerable setback for Musk's own AI venture, xAI, and its conversational AI, Grok. The partnership effectively aligns Apple with two of xAI's primary rivals, Google and OpenAI, potentially isolating Grok from a vast and lucrative hardware ecosystem.
The entrepreneur's argument is rooted in the idea that Google's dual control of widely used platforms like Android and Chrome, coupled with its new access to the iPhone through Gemini, could lead to an unparalleled platform dominance. This, he suggests, would create an unfair playing field where other AI competitors would struggle to gain traction.
Musk's concerns are further amplified by Google's recent legal history. The company has faced antitrust challenges, most notably in the U.S. v. Google case. In August 2024, a federal judge found Google in violation of the Sherman Act for maintaining a monopoly in general search. The ruling specifically criticized multi-billion dollar agreements that established Google as the default search engine on platforms like Safari, including significant payments to Apple.
The subsequent remedy ruling in September 2025, while not forcing a breakup of Google's Chrome or Android divisions due to evolving AI market dynamics, did prohibit Google from securing exclusive default status on any device. Furthermore, Google was mandated to share its search index and user data with qualified competitors to foster a more equitable market. Musk appears to be leveraging these past legal judgments to frame the Apple-Gemini alliance as a subtle maneuver by Google to perpetuate the market control that the courts previously attempted to curtail. His primary motivation seems to be ensuring the viability of xAI within an AI landscape increasingly shaped by exclusive strategic partnerships.
Ultimately, Musk's outspoken critique highlights the growing tensions and strategic maneuvering within the high-stakes artificial intelligence industry. The convergence of powerful tech giants through AI partnerships raises critical questions about competition, innovation, and the potential for certain entities to wield undue influence over the digital future.