Apple addresses U.S. lawsuit regarding Siri feature delays

In March, Apple made the decision to postpone the rollout of its customizable Siri features, a move that sparked a series of class-action lawsuits. Customers claimed that had they been aware of the delay, they either would not have purchased the iPhone 16 or would have paid less for it, alleging that Apple’s advertising about Siri was misleading.

The lawsuits in the U.S. were consolidated into one class action suit, prompting Apple to respond to the allegations. The tech giant filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the delay of just two Siri features, which are part of the broader Apple Intelligence suite, should not lead to the sweeping claims made by the plaintiffs. According to Apple’s legal team, the delayed features of personal context awareness and in-app controls are overshadowed by the nearly two dozen other Apple Intelligence features that have already been delivered.

In defense of their position, Apple’s lawyers cited various features that have already been released as part of Apple Intelligence, including Writing Tools, Image Playground, Genmoji, and Priority Notifications, among others. They underscored that the delayed Siri features do not breach any warranties, emphasizing that Apple was transparent from the beginning about the gradual rollout of additional Apple Intelligence features.

Moreover, Apple highlighted the benefits that all iPhone 16 users have enjoyed, such as camera enhancements, improved performance, upgraded displays, and over 20 Apple Intelligence features that were available before the lawsuit was filed. Despite the delay in the personalized Siri features, Apple CEO Tim Cook assured that work on these features was progressing well, with plans for a release in the next year.

Apple introduced the personalized Siri features during its WWDC 2024 keynote but announced the delay in March. The promised features are expected to include a more comprehensive understanding of user context, on-screen information, and deeper controls within apps. For instance, Apple showcased a scenario where a user could ask Siri about a family member’s flight and lunch reservations based on information from email and messages.

While Apple aims to incorporate these features in iOS 26.4, set for release in March or April next year, the lawsuit is ongoing with the case Landsheft v. Apple Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. This legal battle represents a clash between consumer expectations, advertising claims, and a tech giant’s product development timeline.