May 8, 2026
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If you’ve ever felt like your smartphone promised a little more than it actually delivered, you’re certainly not alone. Many tech enthusiasts who upgraded to the latest hardware recently found themselves waiting for features that seemed to be the main selling point of the device.
This week, those frustrations reached a massive legal milestone. Apple has agreed to pay US$250 million (C$340.5 million) to settle a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of misleading buyers about the capabilities of its artificial intelligence assistant, Siri. (1)
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The legal challenge centred on the rollout of "Apple Intelligence," the high-tech platform introduced alongside the iPhone 16 lineup. For many, the decision to spend over $1,000 on a new phone was driven by the promise of a smarter, more personalized Siri.
However, when the devices actually landed in pockets, many of those advertised AI features were delayed or simply unavailable.
Understanding the settlement terms
The settlement, filed in a California federal court, marks one of the most significant consumer-related payouts in the company's recent history. It addresses claims that the tech giant showed enhanced AI models in advertisements even though the features didn’t exist at the time of purchase. According to court filings, the settlement is intended for U.S. consumers who purchased an eligible iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max or iPhone 16 model between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025.
While the $250 million figure sounds enormous, the individual payout for each device is expected to range between $25 and $95. This depends entirely on how many people ultimately file a claim. Apple has denied any wrongdoing as part of the agreement, opting to settle to move past the litigation.
In a statement provided to the Financial Times, Apple noted: "We resolved this matter to stay focused on what we do best: delivering the most innovative products and services to our users." (2)
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Why this matters up here in Canada
While this specific $250 million settlement is focused on U.S. buyers, it serves as a wake-up call for Canadian consumers regarding "vaporware" — a term used for software that is advertised but doesn't yet exist. Canadian privacy and consumer protection advocates have long monitored how big tech companies market their AI tools.
In fact, Apple has faced separate legal scrutiny in Canada over different Siri-related issues. A class action initiated by Lex Group Attorneys in Montreal has previously alleged that Siri-enabled devices intercepted confidential communications without consent. (3) These legal movements highlight a growing trend where consumers are holding tech giants accountable for both the privacy of their data and the honesty of their marketing.
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Ryan Clarkson, the founder of the law firm that brought the U.S. suit, emphasized the broader impact of the case. "We are at an inflection point with AI, and the choices companies and regulators make now will shape how this technology impacts everyday people," Clarkson told The Guardian (4).
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How to manage your digital privacy
Whether or not you are eligible for a specific settlement, the situation is a great reminder to check the settings on your own devices. If you are concerned about how much data your voice assistant is collecting, you can take action right now.
To adjust your settings on an iPhone, you can navigate to the Settings app and select "Siri & Search" or "Apple Intelligence & Siri." (5) From there, you can toggle off "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" or "Press Side Button for Siri" to limit when the assistant is active. You can also review and delete your Siri and Dictation history to clear previously recorded data from Apple servers.
Staying informed about these settlements helps you stay in control of your digital life and your wallet. As AI becomes a bigger part of our daily routine, the value of knowing exactly what your tech can — and cannot — do has never been higher.
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.
ConsumerAffairs (1); The Guardian (2); Lex Group (3); The Guardian (4); Apple Support (5)
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Leslie Kennedy served as an editor at Thomson Reuters and for Star Media Group, followed by a number of years as a writer and editor and content manager in marketing communications, before returning to her editorial roots. She is a graduate of Humber College’s post-graduate journalism program and has been a professional writer and editor ever since.
