xAI Accused of Evidence Destruction in Antitrust Battle with Apple, OpenAI
OpenAI has leveled serious accusations against Elon Musk's xAI, alleging the systematic destruction of crucial internal communications in the ongoing antitrust lawsuit. The court has also reportedly denied xAI's request to include a former OpenAI researcher in the discovery process, further complicating the high-profile legal dispute.
Escalating Legal Tensions: OpenAI Accuses xAI of Deliberately Destroying Evidence in Antitrust Case
The burgeoning antitrust battle between Elon Musk's xAI and tech giants OpenAI and Apple has taken a dramatic turn, with OpenAI now accusing xAI of deliberately destroying key evidence. Court filings reveal OpenAI's claim that xAI utilized messaging platforms with auto-delete functionalities, effectively erasing communications pertinent to the ongoing lawsuit, even as the company was aware of its impending legal action.
The accusation, detailed in recent court documents reviewed by multiple outlets including Bloomberg and Firstpost, marks a significant escalation in the already contentious legal dispute. xAI initially filed a lawsuit in August 2025, alleging that Apple and OpenAI engaged in anticompetitive collusion. The core of xAI's claim is that the partnership between Apple and OpenAI, particularly the integration of ChatGPT into iOS 18, unfairly disadvantaged competing AI models like xAI's Grok in the App Store rankings.
This development comes amidst the backdrop of a legal battle that has seen its share of contentious moments. As reported by AppleInsider, Apple itself had previously urged the court to dismiss xAI's lawsuit, labeling it as "baseless." The current allegations of evidence destruction, however, shift the focus from the antitrust claims themselves to potential procedural misconduct.
Disappearing Messages and Denied Requests
OpenAI's complaint, as detailed by Cryptopolitan, asserts that xAI directed its employees to employ messaging tools that automatically purge conversations after a specified period. This practice, OpenAI argues, occurred despite xAI's knowledge that it was facing litigation and therefore had a legal obligation to preserve relevant records. The impact of these allegedly deleted messages, OpenAI contends, is far-reaching, affecting "every aspect of xAI’s business" and undermining the discovery process.
Adding another layer to the increasingly complicated legal landscape, the court has reportedly denied xAI's attempt to involve a high-ranking former OpenAI researcher in the discovery phase. This decision, as highlighted by startupnews.fyi, further complicates xAI's efforts in the lawsuit and suggests a judicial inclination towards scrutinizing the company's actions.
A History of Friction
The lawsuit originated from Elon Musk's strong criticisms of Apple's AI initiatives. In the months leading up to the filing of the antitrust suit, Musk engaged in public criticism of Apple's handling of AI, including its ChatGPT integration plans. xAI's lawsuit, filed by Musk's companies, argues that this integration grants OpenAI an undue advantage and effectively locks out smaller AI competitors.
The legal entanglement between these prominent figures and companies in the AI sector continues to unfold, with these new accusations of evidence destruction potentially adding significant weight to OpenAI's defense and casting a shadow over xAI's legal strategy. The outcome of these proceedings could have significant implications for the competitive landscape of the artificial intelligence market.
