Apple Overtakes Silver in Global Asset Ranking Despite $250M AI Settlement

TLDR

• Apple agreed to pay $250M to settle claims over Apple Intelligence marketing.
• The settlement still needs approval from a California federal judge.
• Apple denied wrongdoing under the proposed settlement agreement.
• Eligible iPhone buyers may receive $25 to $95 per device.
• Reports say Apple surpassed silver as the world’s fourth-largest asset.

Apple has agreed to pay $250 million to settle claims that it misled some iPhone buyers about the availability and performance of Apple Intelligence, its artificial intelligence system promoted during the iPhone 16 rollout.

The proposed settlement was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and still requires approval from a judge. Apple denied wrongdoing as part of the agreement. The case was brought by iPhone buyers who said the company advertised artificial intelligence features that were not available when the devices were sold.

The settlement covers consumers who purchased an iPhone 16 or certain iPhone 15 models between June 2024 and March 2025. Eligible customers may receive between $25 and $95 per device, according to the filings cited in reports.

Lawsuit Focuses on Apple Intelligence Claims

The lawsuits were filed after Apple promoted Apple Intelligence in 2024 as a core part of its next generation of devices. The company had announced features designed to improve Siri, summarize notifications and assist users with writing across apps such as messages and email.

Plaintiffs alleged that Apple’s marketing gave buyers the impression that several artificial intelligence tools would be available at or near the launch of the iPhone 16. The complaint said some promoted features were delayed, limited or unavailable after customers bought the devices.

One part of the case centered on a more personalized version of Siri. Apple had said the assistant would gain deeper awareness of user context and app activity. The upgraded version was later delayed over quality concerns, according to reports.

Apple said it settled the matter to remain focused on its products and services. A company spokeswoman said Apple Intelligence had introduced several features across Apple platforms and languages since launch.

Market Value Rises Above Silver

The legal settlement comes as Apple’s market value has reportedly moved above silver, placing the company as the world’s fourth-largest asset by market capitalization as of May 2026.

Reports said Apple overtook silver after renewed investor demand for major technology companies. The move was linked to market confidence in Apple’s hardware business, services revenue and future artificial intelligence plans.

Source: X

Silver had gained attention in late 2025 during a period of demand tied to geopolitical and market conditions. By 2026, large technology companies continued to command high valuations as investors focused on digital services, cloud systems, consumer devices and artificial intelligence products.

Apple’s rise in global asset rankings reflects the scale of publicly traded technology companies compared with some traditional commodities. The company remains one of the largest listed firms by market value, supported by iPhone sales, subscription services, wearables and its software ecosystem.

AI Rollout Remains Under Scrutiny

Apple introduced Apple Intelligence in June 2024 as it sought to compete with artificial intelligence products from other major technology companies. The system was promoted as a way to add AI tools directly to iPhones, iPads and Macs.

Some features were released gradually after the iPhone 16 launch. Others faced technical issues. Notification summaries drew criticism after reports that some summaries misrepresented news content. Apple later disabled or adjusted parts of the feature.

The company has also faced pressure from investors and analysts over the pace of its artificial intelligence strategy. Rivals including Microsoft, Google and Nvidia have benefited from large AI-related investments and demand for computing infrastructure.

Apple has taken a different approach by focusing on device-based features, privacy protections and integration across its own software. Reports said the company later moved to use Google’s Gemini technology for some AI products, including Siri.

The $250 million settlement, if approved, would rank among Apple’s larger legal agreements. It would provide compensation to eligible U.S. customers while avoiding a trial over claims tied to Apple Intelligence advertising.

The case also places attention on how technology companies describe artificial intelligence features before launch. Regulators, courts and consumers have been examining whether AI marketing gives buyers a clear account of what tools are available, what remains in testing and when promised services can be used.

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