Siri overhyped? Ya think?
Published 3:37 pm Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Siri, can you find me an attorney? One willing to sue Apple for false advertising?
New York resident Frank M. Fazio, with or without the help of Siri, which is the iPhone’s 4S’s virtual personal assistant, found the law firm of Robbins Geller to file just such a lawsuit in federal court in California, the Wall Street Journal reported. The lawsuit alleges that Apple’s commercials provide a “misleading and deceptive message” about Siri’s capabilities.
Siri, is that true? Could it be operator error? Siri, will you countersue?
Since Siri is accused of failing to understand simple commands, she would no doubt have trouble with legalese, such as that contained in the lawsuit: “… in many of Apple’s television advertisements, individuals are shown using Siri to make appointments, find restaurants, and even learn the guitar chords to classic rock songs or how to tie a tie. In the commercials, all of these tasks are done with ease with the assistance of the iPhone 4S’s Siri feature, a represented functionality contrary to the actual operating results and performance of Siri.”
Siri, is your represented functionality contrary to your actual operating results and performance? (That would certainly be a first in advertising.)
The lawsuit claims Siri is “far less responsive in real life” than her represented functionality. (Truthfully, aren’t we all sometimes?)
The lawsuit alleges Siri often either fails to understand what Fazio says, or responds with an entirely wrong answer after a “very long wait time.” (If Fazio had wanted a sullen teen as his personal assistant, he would have hired one, the lawsuit does not state.) His lawsuit does ask for unspecified damages. Which is perfect, since the damage to him is rather unspecified.
An MSNBC.com blogger notes that the lawsuit claims that Siri is “at best, a work-in-progress.” Which is exactly what it is, as per Apple’s way of doing things. Siri is considered to be in the development phase and not a “final” product. Which is generally how all the “i” products have been made and rolled out: It’s going to be replaced real soon by a new version.
Siri, do the commercials touting your powers as a personal assistant nonpareil employ exaggeration to entice people to feel they can’t live without you?
Of course they do. Just as all commercials do. Perhaps, however, like some “represented functionality” claims about yogurt’s digestive powers, it will be deemed the commercials claimed Siri could do too much.
Or maybe it will be decided that circumspect Siri simply declined to dignify Fazio’s remarks with a response.
Siri, did you give Fazio the silent treatment?
