Apple is currently facing a class action lawsuit in a US federal court due to delays in the release of its much-anticipated Apple Intelligence features. The legal action was filed on Wednesday, March 19, in the US District Court in San Jose.
The plaintiffs, representing users who purchased iPhones and other devices advertised to support Apple Intelligence, are seeking compensation. They argue that Apple’s marketing created a “clear and reasonable consumer expectation” that these advanced features would be available when the devices were released.
According to the lawsuit, despite Apple’s promotion of sophisticated artificial intelligence capabilities, consumers have received either a limited or entirely absent version of Apple Intelligence. This discrepancy between the advertised features and the actual product has led users to believe they were misled about the technology’s “actual usefulness and performance”.
The lawsuit adds to existing challenges for Apple as it works to bring Apple Intelligence to market. Reports also suggest internal concerns within Apple regarding the development of these AI capabilities, with Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly having lost confidence in the head of AI product development.
Separately, the article mentions that the European Union has introduced new regulations requiring Apple to open its iOS operating system to other technologies. Apple has voiced criticism of these EU requirements. The article also briefly touches on a previous concern regarding EU law potentially hindering Apple’s design plans for a portless iPhone, which was later clarified as legally permissible.
In summary, Apple is being sued by users who believe the company falsely advertised the capabilities of its Apple Intelligence features due to significant delays in their availability after the purchase of new devices. This legal challenge coincides with other external regulatory pressures and internal development concerns for the tech giant.