Apple faces 69-plaintiff lawsuit over delayed iPhone 16 AI features

Apple has filed a motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit alleging the company misled customers about delayed Apple Intelligence features when marketing the iPhone 16. The case, which consolidated multiple lawsuits and features 69 plaintiffs, centers on Apple’s promise of enhanced Siri capabilities that have been delayed until 2026, potentially setting a precedent for how tech companies can market products based on future promises rather than current capabilities.

What you should know: The lawsuit, Landsheft v. Apple Inc., specifically targets Apple’s marketing of two delayed Siri features: personal context awareness and in-app controls.

• Apple argues it cannot support the “sweeping claims” made by plaintiffs, noting that “near two dozen Apple Intelligence features” have already been delivered to iPhone 16 users.
• The company contends that customers have benefited from improved cameras, silicon, performance, displays, and “twenty Apple Intelligence features” including Genmoji, Image Playground, and Writing Tools.
• Plaintiffs allege Apple’s advertisements and WWDC 2024 presentations specifically promised an improved Siri that hasn’t materialized.

The big picture: Apple officially announced in March 2025 that promised Siri capabilities would be delayed until 2026, arriving with iOS 26.4 in March or April.

• This represents a significant departure from Apple’s historical approach of not announcing features until they’re ready for release.
• Apple removed advertisements featuring actor Bella Ramsey that promoted the delayed Siri features from official channels in March.
• Multiple reports have highlighted internal dysfunction within Apple’s AI departments and live AI features that were “shockingly bad or only worked part of the time.”

Why this matters: The case could establish legal precedent for how technology companies market products based on future capabilities rather than current functionality.

• “The problem isn’t that Apple has delayed smarter Siri. The problem is that Apple promised a smarter Siri as a reason to purchase its devices today,” analyst Avi Greengart of Techsponential, a market research firm, explained.
• If Apple loses, it could fundamentally change how tech companies approach product marketing and feature promises.
• The iPhone 16 series was positioned as ushering in an “AI era” for the iPhone, making the delayed features particularly significant for the lawsuit’s claims.

What’s next: The hearing on Apple’s motion to dismiss is scheduled for January 7, 2026.

• If the case survives dismissal, the lawsuit could continue for years through the trial process.
• Apple is simultaneously fighting another lawsuit over toxic “forever” chemicals in Apple Watch bands that also began this year.