‘AI capabilities that did not exist at the time’: Delayed Siri features have cost Apple a massive $250 million, and iPhone users could get up to $95 per device

Apple has agreed to pay $250 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging it misled consumers about the availability of new AI-powered Siri features. The case claimed that Apple’s marketing for iPhone 16 series and select iPhone 15 Pro models promised “AI capabilities that did not exist at the time, do not exist now, and will not exist for two or more years.” Affected users who purchased an eligible device between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025 in the United States can file for compensation—starting at $25 per device but potentially rising to $95 if fewer claims are made. Apple will begin accepting claims within 45 days after May 5, 2026.

The lawsuit stems from Apple’s 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) announcement of Apple Intelligence, which promised transformative Siri upgrades like better contextual awareness and cross-app actions. When the iPhone 16 launched later that year, those features were conspicuously absent and have faced repeated delays—now expected to arrive with iOS 27 at WWDC 2026. Apple has defended itself by pointing to dozens of shipped features like Visual Intelligence, Genmoji, and Clean Up, but critics argue the core Siri enhancements lag far behind rivals like ChatGPT and Gemini. The settlement serves as a costly reminder that overpromising AI capabilities can backfire, even for the world’s most valuable company.