Apple Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over False Advertising Related to Apple Intelligence
Recent reports by Axios reveal that Apple Inc.is embroiled in a significant legal battle concerning alleged false advertising surrounding its Apple Intelligence feature. Launched in October alongside iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, the rollout of Apple Intelligence has not been smooth, raising eyebrows and spawning consumer concerns.
The Controversial Launch of Apple Intelligence
One of the features at the center of the controversy is the notification summaries in Apple Intelligence. This function, designed to condense notifications in a user-friendly manner, infamously misrepresented a BBC headline. It inaccurately stated that UnitedHealthcare CEO’s alleged murderer, Luigi Mangione, had committed suicide, leading Apple to suspend notification summaries for news applications in response to the public outcry.
The Lawsuit Details
The class-action lawsuit was initiated in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, with the plaintiff, Peter Landsheft, accusing Apple of engaging in false advertising, fraud, and breach of contract. Landsheft asserts that consumers were misled into purchasing the iPhone 16 lineup based on promises of AI features that either are non-existent or not fully realized.
Misleading Marketing Claims
According to the complaint, Apple allegedly recognized that the touted features were not yet operational but proceeded with a vigorous marketing campaign that promised a revolutionary upgrade to Siri. Features users were led to expect included:
- A significantly enhanced Siri, capable of personalized interactions and advanced natural language processing.
- Integrated capabilities to connect various apps, such as retrieving podcast episodes mentioned in texts or emails.
- Real-time flight updates linked to live tracking data.
- Expanded functionalities like pulling specific articles or sharing photos seamlessly across devices.
The lawsuit asserts that the promised capabilities are currently non-existent. As stated in the complaint:
Recently, under mounting pressure from outraged consumers and industry scrutiny, Apple was forced to acknowledge that the heralded Apple Intelligence features, including the Siri enhancements that fueled the greatest consumer excitement, did not exist then and do not exist now.
Delayed Promises
Compounding the issue, the lawsuit suggests that if the features are to materialize, it may not occur until 2026 or later. This leaves consumers who purchased the iPhone 16 feeling deceived, with devices that fail to deliver on Apple’s grandiose claims.
Specific Features In Limbo
Several key features marketed with Apple Intelligence are yet to be realized, including:
- Enhanced Siri interactions, potentially delayed until 2027.
- Priority Notifications, aimed at filtering essential alerts.
- Genmoji for Mac, enabling custom emoji generation, still absent for Mac users.
- Sketch Style for Image Playground, an announced AI-driven art style currently unreleased.
- Expanded language support, limited to English, with broader availability expected by April 2025 at the earliest.
Seeking Justice for Consumers
The complaint argues that Apple’s marketing strategy created a false perception that these features would be readily available, positioning the iPhone 16 as an indispensable device. Instead, customers received what the lawsuit describes as a “mirage of innovation.”Landsheft and the proposed class are pursuing financial reparations, aiming for refunds for customers misled by Apple’s claims. They are also requesting injunctive relief to halt Apple’s allegedly deceptive marketing practices, alongside punitive damages for what could be seen as malicious and fraudulent behavior.
Apple’s Response?
Up until now, Apple has refrained from making any public statements regarding the lawsuit. However, given the heightened scrutiny from both consumers and regulatory bodies, experts predict the company may consider a quiet settlement to mitigate further backlash.
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