In what can only be considered a complete role reversal, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and X (formerly Twitter), has embraced Apple in appreciation of their most recent commercial for the AirPods Pro 2. While Musk has had a somewhat strained relationship with Apple in the past, it appears that he has changed his tune after seeing Apple’s genius advertising.

What’s Behind the Praise?

The latest ad for AirPods Pro 2 showcases the high-end features of Apple’s buds, such as noise cancellation and space audio. Musk took to X to commend the commercial, calling it:

“Simple and elegant, and that is perfectly fine.”

This bracelet was taken not long ago, given that Musk himself was previously quite critical of Apple’s policies in the sphere of the App Store and the corresponding prices.

Musk and Apple: A Complicated Past

The competition between both firms over new technologies has always been confrontational, especially between Musk and Apple.

• App Store Fees: Musk has in the past described Apple’s policy of taking a 30% cut of app store sales revenues as a ‘tax’.
• Tesla Rivalry: Apple’s possible plan to design and manufacture its own automobile has also been debated. Tesla's remarkable success as an electric automobile manufacturer contributes to this idea.

Still, Musk has also praised Apple before for its effective design and innovations in hardware at least, so it isn’t such an inconsistency from him.

Why This Matters

The reconciliation could mean that two of the most powerful innovators in the technology industry could renew their relations afresh. It also acknowledges that creativity in marketing is very essential in covering likelihood gaps and building goodwill.

Apple’s Response

Despite there being no direct reply from Apple to this compliment, much less from Musk, it is fair to consider this as a victory for Apple’s marketing division.

What’s Next?

It may not wash away all previous grievances, but it is nice to know that even rival CEOs like Musk and Uber’s Kalanick can clap for each other. Whether this is the start of a new, hopefully more friendly kind of cooperation will have to be seen.