Apple Sued for Allegedly Delaying Siri Features
▼ Summary
– Apple faces a class action lawsuit over delayed personalized Siri features, which plaintiffs claim made their iPhone 16 purchases misleading.
– Apple has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing the delay of just two features cannot support the plaintiffs’ broad claims.
– The company states that plaintiffs have already benefited from numerous other Apple Intelligence features and hardware improvements on their iPhones.
– Apple maintains it was clear from the start that additional Apple Intelligence features would be delivered over time and continue to evolve.
– The delayed Siri features, including personal context awareness and in-app controls, are now expected to be released in iOS 26.4 around March or April of next year.
Apple is now facing a consolidated class action lawsuit following its decision to delay the rollout of two key personalized Siri functionalities. The legal challenge centers on allegations that the company engaged in misleading marketing, with plaintiffs claiming they would not have bought an iPhone 16, or would have paid a lower price, had they known the advertised features were not immediately available.
In a recent motion to dismiss the lawsuit, Apple’s legal team pushed back against what they termed “sweeping claims.” They argued that the postponement of just two features, personal context awareness and in-app controls, is insufficient grounds for the lawsuit, especially when considering the broader Apple Intelligence suite. The filing emphasized that plaintiffs have already benefited from the “near-two dozen Apple Intelligence features that have already been delivered,” such as Writing Tools, Image Playground, and Priority Notifications.
The company’s response highlighted several flaws in the complaint as filed. Apple’s position is that there has been no breach of warranty, stating it was clear from the beginning that additional Apple Intelligence capabilities “would be delivered over time and continue to evolve.” The lawyers pointed out that iPhone 16 owners have gained from significant hardware and software upgrades, including camera improvements, more powerful silicon, and better displays, alongside the already-released AI features.
These specific Siri features were initially unveiled at WWDC 2024, with Apple demonstrating how the assistant could, for instance, retrieve a user’s mother’s flight details and lunch reservations by accessing information from Mail and Messages. However, in March, Apple announced a delay. The capabilities were promoted extensively across product presentations, the company’s website, and even a television commercial featuring actor Bella Ramsey.
Looking ahead, Apple CEO Tim Cook stated in July that development was “making good progress” and the company targets a release “next year.” Reports suggest the features are slated for inclusion in iOS 26.4, expected around March or April of next year. The case, known as Landsheft v. Apple Inc., is proceeding in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
(Source: Mac Rumors)
