Apple has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that it deceived customers by marketing artificial intelligence features for Siri that did not exist at the time of purchase, according to a recent court filing.
Lawsuit Details
The class-action lawsuit, filed in federal court in the Northern District of California on behalf of US consumers, claimed that Apple promoted 'Enhanced Siri features' that were not yet available, leading customers to buy iPhones based on false advertising. The lawsuit stated that Apple 'promoted AI capabilities that did not exist at the time, do not exist now, and will not exist for two or more years.'
It also alleged that Apple 'saturated the internet, television, and other airwaves to cultivate a clear and reasonable consumer expectation that these transformative features would be available upon the iPhone's release.'
Settlement Terms
The proposed $250 million settlement applies to US consumers who purchased an Apple Intelligence-compatible device between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025. Eligible devices include the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Under the agreement, eligible users are expected to receive approximately $25 per qualifying device, though the final amount may vary depending on the number of claims filed. According to the court filing, around 37 million iPhone owners are eligible.
How to File a Claim
To file a claim, consumers must provide proof of purchase for an eligible device, such as the device's serial number, Apple Account details, or an associated phone number. The settlement received preliminary approval, and eligible users will receive notices with instructions on how to submit claims within the next 45 days. Customers will be notified by email or mail and can file a claim on a dedicated settlement website.
Apple stated: 'Apple has reached a settlement to resolve claims related to the availability of two additional features. We resolved this matter to stay focused on doing what we do best, delivering the most innovative products and services to our users.'
Background on AI Features
The false advertising allegations focused on several heavily promoted Apple Intelligence features that critics claimed were not fully available at launch. Among the biggest complaints was Apple's 'new' Siri, marketed as a far more personalized assistant capable of deeply integrating with apps and accessing personal data stored on the device.
Apple also advertised Siri's 'on-screen awareness,' a feature that would allow the assistant to understand and act on information displayed on a user's screen, such as automatically adding an address from a text message into contacts. Plaintiffs argued that these capabilities were missing when the devices were released.
The lawsuit further pointed to Apple's promotion of advanced generative AI tools, including image-generation features and enhanced writing assistants, which were advertised as part of the initial rollout of Apple Intelligence despite not being widely available at launch.
In 2025, an advertising watchdog, the National Advertising Division, said Apple went too far with its AI marketing. The non-profit focused on 'truth in advertising' stated that Apple agreed to pull a commercial promoting its upgraded Siri assistant after questions were raised about the company's AI claims. The ad, titled 'More Personal Siri,' showcased the iPhone 16 and highlighted advanced Siri features that had not yet been released to the public.
The commercial debuted in September as part of Apple's push to market its new AI-powered technology. Months later, in March, Apple acknowledged that several of the promised Siri upgrades would not arrive as expected and announced the features had been postponed until sometime next year.
