Apple is confronting new legal challenges as multiple class action lawsuits have been filed in the United States and Canada regarding delayed personalized Siri features that were promised but remain unavailable.
The latest lawsuit, filed in a California federal court, claims Apple violated false advertising and unfair competition laws by marketing unreleased Apple Intelligence upgrades for Siri. The plaintiffs assert they would not have purchased iPhone 16 devices, or would have paid less, had they known the advertised features would be unavailable.
The company heavily promoted these Siri enhancements through various channels, including product presentations, their website, and television commercials featuring actor Bella Ramsey. The promised features were meant to include personalized context understanding, on-screen awareness, and enhanced app controls.
Originally unveiled at WWDC 2024, these capabilities were scheduled to launch by WWDC 2025. However, Apple recently announced delays, pushing the release timeline into "the coming year." Industry experts now predict the features may not arrive until 2026.
This latest filing joins an existing California lawsuit from last month and another recent complaint in British Columbia, Canada. The cases could potentially merge as they proceed through the legal system.
The lawsuits seek damages for customers who purchased iPhone 16 devices specifically to access the advertised Siri features. The exact amount will be determined at trial. Apple's legal team has not yet responded to any of these complaints.
These enhanced Siri capabilities were intended to allow more sophisticated interactions, such as processing flight information and restaurant reservations from emails and messages. As the legal proceedings unfold, iPhone 16 users continue to wait for the promised upgrades that influenced their purchase decisions.