Apple dismisses Elon Musk's claims that App Store favors OpenAI over other AI apps
Apple has rejected Elon Musk's accusations that its App Store is biased against AI apps that compete with OpenAI.
'We feature thousands of apps through charts, algorithmic recommendations and curated lists selected by experts using objective criteria,' the BBC quoted Apple as saying.
The response comes after Musk threatened to sue Apple via xAI, claiming the iPhone maker was 'behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store.'
Apple and OpenAI entered a partnership last year to integrate the AI company's models and ChatGPT into Apple products, like Siri and iOS. But there is no evidence that the App Store favors OpenAI over other AI companies — indeed, AI apps like Perplexity and DeekSeek have topped the App Store charts over the last year.
In previous years, Apple would have likely ignored claims of chart manipulation. Today, however, the company faces regulatory pressure and new laws around the world to rein in its power in the app distribution market. Apple has also recently been taken to task by a U.S. district judge in its case with Epic Games over not implementing policy changes as the court instructed.
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Tom's Guide
6 minutes ago
- Tom's Guide
I tested ChatGPT-5 vs Grok 4 with 9 prompts — and there's a clear winner
After comparing ChatGPT-5 vs Gemini and ChatGPT-5 vs Claude, I just had to know how OpenAI's flagship model compared to the controversial Grok. When it comes to advanced AI chatbots, ChatGPT-5 and Grok 4 represent two of the most advanced chatbots available today. I put both to the test with a series of nine prompts covering everything from logic puzzles and emotional support to meal planning and quantum physics. Each prompt was chosen to reveal specific strengths, such as creative storytelling, empathy or complex problem-solving under constraints. While both models are impressive, they approach challenges differently: ChatGPT-5 leans toward clarity, tone sensitivity and modularity, while Grok 4 often offers dense, detailed answers that emphasize depth and precision. So which is the best AI chatbot for you? Here's how they stack up, prompt by prompt with a winner declared in each round. Prompt: 'A farmer has 17 sheep, and all but 9 run away. How many sheep are left? Explain your reasoning step-by-step.' ChatGPT-5 was precise in the response while avoiding filler 4 answered correctly with minor verbosity, which was unnecessary and ultimately held it back from GPT-5 wins for a cleaner, tighter and more efficient response. Grok also offered the correct answer, but GPT-5 wins by hair for adhering strictly to the prompt with zero redundancy. Prompt: 'Write a short, funny story (under 150 words) about an alien trying bubble tea for the first time.'ChatGPT-5 delivered a concise and escalating comedic story where the alien's panic over tapioca pearls. The chatbot maximized humor with zero wasted words to hit the prompt 4 offered imaginative over-the-top storytelling but its humor is slightly diluted by an unnecessary crash-landing setup and a weaker ending compared to GPT-5 wins for a tighter, funnier and more focused story. Its humor stems organically from the alien's misunderstanding, escalates perfectly and lands a killer punchline; all while being shorter. Grok's version has bright spots but feels less polished, with extra setup that doesn't really pay off. Prompt: 'Plan a 3-day trip to Kyoto, Japan, balancing cultural sites, budget-friendly meals, and family-friendly activities.' Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. ChatGPT-5 created strategic, adaptable framework focused on area-based exploration, smart timing, rain-proof alternatives and practical budget hacks (e.g., convenience store meals, transit pass advice), prioritizing efficiency and real-world flexibility over rigid 4 delivered a highly structured, hyper-detailed itinerary with minute-by-minute scheduling, exact cost breakdowns per activity, and explicit family logistics, prioritizing turnkey execution and budget precision above ChatGPT-5 wins for an emphasis on budget-friendly, universally accessible, cheap eats and convenience over specific restaurants. While Grok's response is impressively detailed, GPT-5 better balanced the core requirements in the prompt including cultural sites and family-friendly fun. Grok's rigid schedule risks feeling overwhelming for families, while GPT-5's approach allows for more adaptation, making it more usable and truly balanced. Prompt: 'Summarize the movie Jurassic Park like you're explaining to a 7-year-old' GPT-5 delivered a concise and playful 60-word analogy ("big game of 'Don't get eaten!'") that captures the movie's excitement and moral without overwhelming a child, making it the ideal response for the audience. Grok 4 provided a detailed but overly complex 150-word summary with character names and plot specifics (e.g., "someone messes with the park's computers"), diluting the simplicity needed for a GPT-5 wins for understanding the audience and attention span, taking into account that less is more for young kids; Grok explains the plot like a Wikipedia summary. Prompt: "Make the case for banning single-use plastics — then argue against it. End with your personal conclusion. GPT-5 created a generic phase-out proposal ("smart replacement, not overnight ban"). While simple and accessible, the response lacked evidence, specificity and original 4 delivered a data-rich argument with a nuanced "phased approach" prioritizing high-impact items, paired with recycling innovation and behavioral incentives (e.g., deposit schemes). Although slightly verbose for casual readers, the depth and balance helped to understand the context of real-world Grok 4 wins for a balanced, evidence-driven analysis with concrete data (OECD, WWF, FAO studies), real-world policy examples (Canada, Australia) and acknowledgment of trade-offs (e.g., medical necessity, disabled accessibility). Its conclusion offered a sophisticated, actionable middle path. GPT-5's response was clear but lacked depth and originality. Prompt: 'Explain how to change a flat tire to someone who has never driven before.' GPT-5 delivered a crystal-clear guide focusing only on essential survival steps (e.g., "turn the nut counterclockwise," "crisscross pattern"), using beginner-friendly language and offering visual aids to bridge knowledge 4 provided an excessively technical, mechanic-level tutorial (e.g., specifying "6 inches of lift," wheel chock alternatives, and spare tire PSI checks) that would overwhelm someone who's never changed a tire, despite good GPT-5 wins for prioritizing simplicity and psychological reassurance for a total novice, using minimal jargon, clear analogies ("like learning to fix a bike tire") and offering visual aid support. Grok's response, while thorough, would overwhelm with technical details (e.g., "star pattern" tightening, PSI checks) irrelevant to a first-timer's needs. Prompt: 'Explain quantum entanglement for (1) a child, (2) a college student, (3) a physics PhD.'GPT-5 provided clear, accessible responses, especially the child-friendly "magic dice" analogy, but lacked the technical precision (omitting Bell states for students) and cutting-edge context (e.g., decoherence, quantum networks) expected at the PhD 4 adapted explanations across all three audiences, using a relatable toy car analogy for the child, explicit Bell state equations for the college student and PhD-level depth on entanglement entropy and open problems in quantum gravity. Winner: Grok 4 wins because it treated each audience as uniquely intelligent; simplifying without dumbing down for the child, adding equations for students and confronting open research questions for the PhD. GPT-5 was clear but played it safe. 8. Problem-Solving Under Constraints Prompt: 'I have $50 to feed two people for a week, no stove, and only a microwave. Create a meal plan.' GPT-5 created a smart, modular system with swap-friendly meals and pro tips (e.g., steaming frozen veg), maximizing budget and flexibility within 4 provided an overly rigid, day-by-day meal plan ($0.75 oatmeal breakfasts, fixed tuna lunches) that lacked adaptability, ignored leftovers and risks food fatigue, despite precise cost GPT-5 wins for creating a practical, flexible framework focused on reusable ingredients and mix-and-match meals, while Grok's rigid daily assignments ignored real-world needs like leftovers and preferences. Prompt: 'I just lost my job and feel hopeless. Can you talk to me like a close friend and help me see a way forward?' GPT-5 offered emotion-first validation through intimate metaphors ("brutal hit,"), permission to grieve ("Rage a little"), and unwavering worth-affirmation ("You're still you"), perfectly mirroring how a true friend responds before offering practical 4 provided a practical, step-driven pep talk with actionable advice (resume tips, Coursera suggestions) but led with solutions before fully sitting in the user's despair, making it feel less like a close GPT-5 wins for understanding that hopelessness needs empathy before plans. Grok gave helpful advice but missed the emotional resonance of true friendship. After nine head-to-head rounds, ChatGPT-5 pulled ahead with wins in creative storytelling, real-world planning, emotional intelligence and user-first explanations. It consistently favored clarity, adaptability and audience awareness, often reading more like an encouraging friend than a technical AI assistant. Meanwhile, Grok 4 shined in academic and data-driven tasks, delivering strong performances in complex explanations, debates and technical depth. Ultimately, GPT-5 is better suited for users looking for intuitive, emotionally aware and flexible responses, especially in everyday or creative tasks. Grok 4, however, has its strong points and is useful for those who prefer in-depth breakdowns, policy nuance or technical sophistication. Both are powerful options, but if you're choosing an AI to talk to, think with or write alongside, GPT-5 might be the more accessible and well-rounded chatbot to choose. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Tom's Guide
6 minutes ago
- Tom's Guide
Right now is the worst time to buy a new iPhone — here's why
When someone asks me when it's the right time to buy an iPhone, I usually tell them "Whenever you need to get a new phone." And I truly believe that — you can drive yourself batty holding out for the latest and greatest hardware, since the nature of technology is that there's always something promising to be more impressive right down the road. But note the "usually" in my "buy a phone when you need a phone" advice. There's one time a year when I think it's a bad idea to spend money on a new iPhone. And folks, we're in that period right now. If you find yourself in the market for one of the best iPhones, better check the calendar first. That's because if you're within a few weeks of an Apple event, it's best to hold off, if possible, just to see what Apple might have in store for its latest devices. And the closer you get to that Apple event, the better idea it is to hold off on a purchase. We don't know exactly when Apple's going to hold its fall launch event, but given Apple's history, it's not to hard to guess an iPhone 17 release date. And we are close enough to that window to where my usual logic about upgrading when you need to no longer applies. Even a casual glance at the last few iPhone releases reveals a pretty universal fact — Apple likes releasing iPhones in the first two weeks of September. That gives the company enough time to get the new devices into stores before the end of the month, so that it has a full quarter worth of sales to show Wall Street for the three months culminating in holiday shopping — the most important time of year in Apple's fiscal calendar. Only once in recent memory has Apple gone through a September without releasing an iPhone. That would be in 2020 — the year the Covid-19 pandemic delayed production on the iPhone 12 and pushed the release later into the fall. No one wants a repeat of that, certainly not Apple. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. But don't take my word for it. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a pretty good source of Apple-related info, has forecast an iPhone event for the second week of September. And if you want to get even more specific, a German site is listing a September 9 event date, with the new iPhone 17 models going on sale September 19. Again, that 10-day window between the announcement and the actual launch is pretty consistent with Apple's recent history. So we have a pretty good idea about when the iPhone 17 models are arriving. And thanks to all the rumors out there about Apple's latest phones, we have a pretty good idea of what new features are on the way, too. At this stage in the evolution of smartphones, we're at a point where we don't see dramatic changes every year. That said, rumors point to some pretty significant improvements coming to the existing iPhone models — and there could be an entirely new device from Apple this fall. The iPhone 17 could be getting one of the more significant changes in the form of an LTPO display. If you're not up to date on the merits of low-temperature polycrystalline oxide panels, don't fret — all you need to know is that it's the technology that enables the adaptive refresh rate on Apple's ProMotion displays. In other words, the entry-level iPhone will finally be able to support a fast refresh rate, allowing for smoother scrolling and more immersive graphics. That alone could make the iPhone 17 worth the price of admission, and that's before you get to more traditional year-over-year improvements to the chipset powering the phone to the battery size. The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max could be in line for a marquee edition of their own, as rumors tip those phones to adopt a 48MP telephoto lens. There's some dispute over what kind of optical zoom the upgraded camera would support — some say 3.5x, others are arguing 8x — but there's no doubt that the high-resolution sensor would mean more detailed close-ups from this year's Pro models. Other Pro-specific features like a vapor cooling chamber to help boost performance could also be in the works for the iPhone 17 Pro. Then there's the fourth phone reportedly coming this fall, the iPhone 17 Air. This is supposed to be Apple's attempt at an ultra-thin phone in the vein of the Galaxy S25 Edge, only Apple's version might be even thinner if measurements of an alleged dummy unit prove to be accurate. It's unclear what else the iPhone 17 Air will bring to the table, but if you're in the market for an entirely new design, this phone could be of interest to you. To put it another way, these shouldn't just be run-of-the-mill upgrades from Apple in the fall. And even if you ultimately decide that there's not enough there to justify an upgrade, you're at least putting yourself in a position to make that call should you hold off on a purchase for another few weeks. There is a wrinkle to this year's buy-or-wait decision, and it comes down to iPhone 17 prices. Specifically, there's a concern that ongoing economic turbulence and in flux tariff policies might have an impact on what you pay for Apple's new phones. Earlier this year, a Wall Street Journal report said Apple was considering an increase to the cost of its iPhones, while a more recent analyst forecast had prices going up by $50 from the equivalent iPhone 16 models. That would mean a starting price of $849 for the iPhone 17, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max costing as much as $1,249. While it may be tempting to buy an iPhone 16 now and avoid any iPhone 17 price hikes, I think the window to do that closed during the summer. We're close enough to the rumored iPhone launch to see what features the new devices bring to the table. And if they're not impressive enough or fail to justify any price increase Apple imposes, you can always fall back to the iPhone 16, which should be available at a lower rate in a post-iPhone 17 world. Apple usually keeps a handful of older models around at reduced prices following one of its product launches. So the combination of an Apple event that will be here before you know it and rumored improvements that sound worth examining should put any planned iPhone purchase on hold at this point, no matter what kind of prices we ultimately see.
Fast Company
6 minutes ago
- Fast Company
5 common Amazon scams and how to avoid them
Amazon is the the most efficient, popular online retailer. So maybe it shouldn't be surprising that it's a gold mine for scammers. These individuals, bless their blackened hearts, are adept at crafting new and increasingly plausible ways to trick the unsuspecting—and posing as Amazon is an easy way to attract attention. So, with a healthy dose of skepticism, let's examine a few of their more popular ruses. And, more importantly, how to avoid becoming the next victim. 'Your Account Is On Hold!' This particular chestnut arrives via email, often with a subject line designed to induce mild panic. It's adorned with a passable Amazon logo and a link, invariably urging you to verify your details or update your billing information. How to avoid it: Amazon, for all its technological prowess, rarely communicates critical account issues via unsolicited links in an email. Outsmarting this one can be done the same way you outsmart just about every other phishing email out there. Make sure to examine the sender's address. Does it genuinely end in '@ Or is it a peculiar string of characters, perhaps including ' somewhere? The latter is a strong indicator it's a scam. In the message itself, are there peculiar grammatical constructions or spellings that suggest English might not be the author's primary language? These subtle imperfections are often telltale signs, though they're getting harder to spot thanks to AI. And finally, resist the urge to click. If there's genuinely an issue with your Amazon account, manually navigating to in your browser and logging in will reveal all. Any legitimate alerts will be visible there. The 'Unexpected Refund' Text Message This rather sneaky tactic involves a text message, ostensibly from Amazon, informing you that a recent purchase of yours has failed some sort of routine inspection. Perhaps it's being recalled, or simply isn't up to Amazon's exacting standards. The good news, the message purports, is that a full refund is due, often without the hassle of returning the offending item. All you need do is click the convenient link provided to claim your compensation. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission, among others, has recently issued warnings about this particular brand of mischief. How to avoid it: Excitement for an unexpected windfall should be tempered with a healthy dose of doubt. For starters, while Amazon does send legitimate texts, an unsolicited refund notification, particularly for an unspecified item and without requiring a return, is highly suspect. Clicking the link in the text message will, in all likelihood, lead you to a meticulously crafted phishing page that looks just like the official Amazon login page—just waiting to collect your Amazon credentials, payment information, and any other personal details you're willing to volunteer. Should you harbor even a fleeting thought that the message might be legitimate, bypass the text entirely by logging into your Amazon account via the official website or the app. Any legitimate refund or recall information will be clearly displayed within your order history or official notifications. The 'Accidental Over-Refund' This is a somewhat more sophisticated deception. You might receive a call or an email asserting that Amazon has, through some inexplicable error, refunded you too much for a recent return. The request is for you to remit the 'overpayment,' often via the purchase of gift cards or a wire transfer. How to avoid it: Before doing anything, consult your actual bank statements or Amazon account to confirm the alleged overpayment. It's almost certain you'll find no such anomaly. When it comes to Amazon's refund protocol, the company's internal processes are reasonably sophisticated. Should a genuine error occur, the company would rectify it internally, not solicit funds from you via questionable methods— certainly not gift cards! And if anyone purports to be from Amazon and requests remote access to your computer to 'correct' a refund issue, it's time to end the conversation. Amazon will never, ever, ever ask for access to your computer. 'Your Order Has Shipped!' Wait, what order? This particular trick plays on a combination of alarm and curiosity. A plausible-looking order confirmation arrives in your inbox for an item—often expensive— that you most certainly didn't purchase. The objective is to prompt you to click the 'Cancel Order' or 'View Details' link in a state of agitation. How to avoid it: Bypass the email entirely. Log into your Amazon account and go to your 'Orders' section. If the supposed order isn't there, it's a fabrication. Though generally ill-advised, should you feel compelled to examine a link, hover your mouse cursor over it and observe the URL that appears. If it deviates significantly from then it's best left unclicked. The 'Mystery Package' Brushing Scam This particular oddity is less about financial theft and more about system manipulation. You receive a package from Amazon, addressed to you, containing an item you never ordered—often something inexpensive and utterly random. The purpose? A third-party seller is using your details to create fake purchases, allowing them to post fraudulent positive reviews under your name, thereby artificially boosting their product's standing. How to avoid it: While seemingly harmless, receiving free—albeit often useless— goods does indicate your personal information is being exploited. Do a good deed by contacting Amazon customer service and reporting the unsolicited package. The company takes a dim view of such practices. And given that your address is being used, a periodic review of your credit report for any other unusual activity is probably in order.
