Apple Reaches Proposed $250 Million Settlement in Siri "Apple Intelligence" False Advertising Class Action

Apple Reaches Proposed $250 Million Settlement in Siri "Apple Intelligence" False Advertising Class Action

Apple has agreed to a proposed $250 million class action settlement to resolve allegations that it falsely advertised enhanced Siri artificial intelligence (AI) features¹ for its iPhone 16 and certain iPhone 15 models before those features were actually functional or available to consumers.

The consolidated class action, Landsheft v. Apple Inc., was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. It represents one of the largest consumer class action settlements to date involving alleged "AI-washing"—the practice of marketing advanced AI capabilities that are not yet available or fully realized at the time of sale.

The Litigation and Settlement Terms

The lawsuit alleges that Apple marketed its iPhone 16 lineup and iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max models as featuring a revolutionary, AI-powered Siri under the "Apple Intelligence" banner. However, plaintiffs asserted that Apple created a deceptive impression that these features were functional at launch, when in reality, many of the highly anticipated capabilities were delayed and scheduled for rolling software updates over many months.

Key aspects of the proposed settlement include:

• Settlement Amount: $250 million.
• Eligible Class: Consumers who purchased any iPhone 16 model or certain iPhone 15 models (iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max) between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025.
• Payout Structure: Class members with valid claims will receive approximately $25 per eligible device. Depending on the final claim participation rate, this payout could scale up to as much as $95 per device.
• Injunctive Relief: Apple anticipates delivering the promised Siri Apple Intelligence features via future, no-cost software updates.
• No Admission of Liability: Apple continues to deny all allegations of wrongdoing, maintaining that its marketing materials clearly disclosed that Apple Intelligence features would roll out incrementally over time.

Status of Preliminary Approval

The plaintiffs filed their Motion for Preliminary Approval of the Class Action Settlement on May 5, 2026 (Docket 77). While a preliminary approval hearing was originally scheduled for June 17, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Noël Wise, the federal court docket indicates that a clerk's notice was issued on June 10, 2026, terminating the scheduled hearing. This typically indicates that the court has vacated the oral argument and taken the preliminary approval motion under submission to be decided on the papers, or that a written order is forthcoming.

This settlement represents a major milestone in AI consumer litigation, establishing a precedent for how tech giants must manage consumer expectations and disclosures when marketing products based on future AI software roadmaps.