iPhone 16 owners owed $250 million after Apple settles Siri lawsuit

Apple has agreed to pay $250 million to settle a class action lawsuit over allegations of false advertising related to the AI capabilities of its virtual assistant, Siri. The lawsuit, filed in 2024 in a federal court in San Jose, California, centers on claims that Apple misled consumers by promoting AI upgrades for Siri as part of its Apple Intelligence suite, which were expected to be available on the iPhone 16 and other new models launched in late 2024. However, these promised features were not delivered until 2025, prompting the legal action. The settlement covers U.S. customers who purchased an iPhone 16, iPhone 15 Pro, or Pro Max between June 2024 and March 2025, with potential payments of up to $95 per device, pending judicial approval. The lawsuit arose after Apple announced significant AI enhancements at its 2024 software developer conference, only to delay the rollout of the Siri overhaul until 2025. Apple executives have since confirmed that the revamped Siri features will be unveiled at the upcoming Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC). While Apple did not admit any wrongdoing in the settlement, the company emphasized that it has introduced numerous other AI-related features since the initial launch of Apple Intelligence in 2024. The settlement aims to resolve claims specifically related to the availability of two additional Siri features that were initially advertised but not delivered on schedule. Siri, which debuted 15 years ago, was once a pioneering voice assistant but has since lagged behind competitors like Google, Meta, and newer AI-focused companies such as Anthropic and OpenAI. Apple CEO Tim Cook has prioritized improving Siri’s AI capabilities, viewing AI as an integral part of Apple’s device ecosystem rather than a standalone feature. Cook has also sought partnerships to accelerate the development of AI technologies within Apple’s products. This settlement and the forthcoming Siri update underscore Apple’s ongoing efforts to catch up in the competitive AI landscape while addressing consumer expectations and legal challenges.