Apple Shells Out $250 Million to Settle Siri AI Lawsuit - iPhone Buyers Could Pocket Up to $95

Apple has agreed to a $250 million settlement to put to rest a class-action lawsuit accusing the tech giant of misleading consumers with promises of AI-powered Siri capabilities that never actually materialized.
The legal dispute centred on allegations that Apple's marketing painted a rosy picture of a dramatically upgraded, AI-driven Siri that was supposed to arrive alongside the iPhone 16 - but never did.

Who's Eligible?
The settlement window covers purchases of Apple Intelligence-capable devices made between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025 in the United States. That includes the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max - amounting to roughly 36 million devices.

How Much Will You Get?
Each eligible device carries a base payout of $25, though that figure could climb as high as $95 per device if fewer people submit claims than expected. A portion of the $250 million pool will also go toward legal fees and administrative expenses, reducing the total amount distributed to consumers.

How to Claim?
To file a claim, users will need to submit proof of purchase, their device's serial number, their Apple Account details, and a phone number. Notices inviting submissions are expected to go out within 45 days of the settlement's preliminary approval on May 5, 2026.

Apple's Position
The settlement does not require Apple to admit any wrongdoing. In a statement, an Apple spokesperson said the company chose to resolve the matter so it could stay focused on delivering products and services to its users.

The Bigger Picture
Apple's AI stumbles have been well-documented - notification summaries occasionally distorted news headlines, and the much-hyped "enhanced Siri" suffered repeated delays. The company has since seen significant leadership changes, including the departure of its AI chief John Giannandrea, and has reportedly turned to Google's Gemini to bolster its AI capabilities in the interim.
The lawsuit originally contended that Apple promoted AI capabilities that were nowhere near ready, accusing the company of saturating advertising channels to build consumer expectations it simply couldn't meet.