Apple Pays $250 Million for Promises on Siri

Apple has recently decided to settle a class-action lawsuit by agreeing to pay $250 million. This action follows accusations against the company, claiming it misled customers regarding the availability of certain artificial intelligence features on its devices. This settlement is intended for American consumers who purchased the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro models between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025.

Affected customers can claim compensation of $25 for each eligible device. However, this amount could vary, potentially reaching up to $95 per device, depending on the total number of claims submitted and other criteria. This information was communicated by the law firm Clarkson, which represents the plaintiffs in this case.

This decision brings an end to legal proceedings initiated in 2025. The filed complaint alleged that Apple had created unreasonable expectations among consumers through its advertising, implying that Apple Intelligence features would be available at the launch of the iPhone 16. However, it turned out that the devices offered only a limited, or even absent, version of these features, misleading users about their true utility and performance.

During its Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2024, Apple announced a series of new AI-based features for its iPhones, including a more personalized version of Siri. However, at the launch of the iPhone 16 in September, although presented as "designed for Apple Intelligence," the device lacked many of the capabilities previously announced.

Apple chose to gradually roll out its new AI features, such as Image Playground, Genmoji, and the integration of ChatGPT into Siri. Additionally, the launch of the more personalized version of Siri has been postponed and is now expected later this year.

Last April, the National Advertising Division advised Apple to "cease or modify" its "available now" statement on the Apple Intelligence page of its website. As a result, Apple removed an advertisement for the iPhone 16 that featured actress Bella Ramsey using the AI-enhanced version of Siri. Apple did not respond to The Verge's request for comment regarding this matter.