Apple agrees US$250m US Siri marketing settlement; some iPhone buyers could see up to US$95

Certain iPhone users in the United States stand to collect individual cash awards of as much as US$95 after Apple on Tuesday struck a US$250 million accord to end a class action accusing the firm of misrepresenting its artificial-intelligence offerings.

At the 2024 debut of the iPhone 16 the manufacturer spotlighted forthcoming AI-powered Siri enhancements bundled with software it marketed under the label "Apple Intelligence (AI)".

Interest in machine-learning tools has surged across the handset sector, yet the broad Siri overhaul signalled at that time has still not reached customers roughly two years afterward.

The complaint, brought for US purchasers in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco, contends that promotional material showcased functions that were not yet real and thereby distorted purchase choices.

Counsel for the device owners have requested preliminary judicial blessing of the US$250 million arrangement, according to documents placed on the docket. A judge’s green light would rank the package among the most substantial Apple has ever accepted.

The arrangement spans roughly 37 million units sold in the United States from 10 June 2024 through 29 March 2025, spanning every iPhone 16 configuration together with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Each covered handset qualifies for no less than US$25, while the upper bound may approach US$95 per unit depending on how many people file claims "and other factors", the papers add.

People who qualify will learn by email or standard mail that they may lodge paperwork through a dedicated settlement site.

"Apple has reached a settlement to resolve claims related to the availability of two additional features," the company said in a statement. "We resolved this matter to stay focused on doing what we do best, delivering the most innovative products and services to our users."

Filings describe the Cupertino, California, company as surprised by how strongly shoppers anticipated Siri’s expanded AI toolkit, and say frustration mounted once buyers learned the capabilities would land later than first suggested.

They "would not have purchased the Eligible Devices or would have paid significantly less, had they known Enhanced Siri features were not available," the filing said.

Apple continues to refine its own AI stack while Google and Samsung keep shipping richer on-device intelligence on competing hardware. Apple is expected to present its Siri upgrade this year, most likely at its annual developer conference next month.

In the same statement Apple said it has "introduced dozens of features" since Apple Intelligence arrived, including Visual Intelligence and Live Translations.

— AP