Google Gemini's Proactive Assistance will suggest actions before you ask for help

Google Gemini Proactive Assistance Handles Tasks Before You Ask for Them

(Credit: Timon Schneider/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Google Gemini may soon suggest ideas before you've asked the AI for help, thanks to a new feature called Proactive Assistance, currently hidden in a beta of the Google app on Android. We don't know when Google plans to launch Proactive Assistance, but 9to5Google and Android Authority were able to access parts of it in version 17.18. According to 9to5Google's research, the feature will help users "Get personalized suggestions at the right time." It lets you choose which apps can power suggestions, including Calendar, Docs, Drive, Gmail, and Keep. Other screenshots show it working alongside Contacts or Messages on Android, though it hasn't yet been confirmed whether third-party apps can be included. Google also asks for your permission to use information visible on your screen, or anything that comes through your notifications. Google's materials say privacy is a priority, with all processing happening on your device. As ever, be wary of which apps you allow to connect to Gemini. At Google I/O 2025, Google showed Gemini notifying a user about a test coming up in their calendar. It then built a practice quiz and sent it as a suggestion, without them asking for it. At the time, the company didn't refer to this as Proactive Assistance, but that may be new branding. Google may also be revamping the voices available in Gemini, as code spotted by Android Authority indicates the 10 current options are "legacy voices." We may hear more about these Gemini changes at Google's upcoming I/O 2026 event, scheduled to start on May 19.

Google Gemini wants to become a more proactive assistant

I've been writing about Android since 2011, with a focus on device reviews, Samsung and Google Pixel hardware, and the latest happenings in the ecosystem. In my entire writing career, I've reviewed more than 75 Android phones. Carrying both a Samsung or Pixel flagship and an iPhone as a daily driver provides me with deep insight into how Android works and how it compares to iOS. I have been writing for Android Police since 2021, covering news, how-tos, and features. You can find my previous work on Neowin, AndroidBeat, Times of India, iPhoneHacks, MySmartPrice, and MakeUseOf. When not working, I tend to mindlessly scroll through X, play with new AI models, or go on long road trips. You can reach out to me on X or drop a mail at [email protected]. Google eventually wants Gemini to become an always-on assistant, one that's proactive rather than reactive. Magic Cue on Pixel phones offers a glimpse of that vision, surfacing relevant information based on the context of your conversation. Gemini Proactive Assistance appears to be the next step in bringing that idea to life. A teardown of the latest Google app beta (v17.18) (via 9to5Google) points to a "Proactive Assistance" feature designed to deliver "personalized suggestions at the right time." The associated strings suggest Proactive Assistance can pull information from specified apps, including Gmail, Contacts, Messages, and Calendar, to provide relevant insights, such as upcoming events, important dates, and locations. Proactive Assistance may see your notifications and on-screen content for additional context. The Android Authority team managed to activate the relevant Proactive Assistance settings, revealing more details about how it will work. Close Before you raise your privacy pitchforks about the feature, Proactive Assistant will process all data entirely on-device. All information will be encrypted and stored on your phone. Google will also never use it for training purposes. Since there's on-device processing involved, Google may initially roll out Proactive Assistance to Pixel phones only. With I/O 2026 a few weeks away, Google could talk more about Proactive Assistance and how it will work at its biggest developer event of the year. An always-on smarter assistant While not everyone will be comfortable giving Gemini access to their personal information and notifications, it's this level of access that will make the AI assistant more useful in daily use. Proactive Assistance could pull data from your calendar and remind you to leave for a meeting within the next 30 minutes, based on real-time traffic conditions. It could also automatically surface your boarding pass as you arrive at the airport. Subscribe to our newsletter for deeper AI assistant insights Unlock expert coverage when you subscribe to our newsletter: detailed looks at Google's Proactive Assistance, its on-device privacy approach, practical usefulness, and analysis of related AI assistant developments. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. While it may not happen at launch, Proactive Assistance may eventually feature third-party app integration to pull in more relevant information. That would further increase its usefulness, as it wouldn't be limited to Google's ecosystem. There's still a lot we don't know about Proactive Assistance, though. While it seems impressive based on the reports, it should actually work properly in daily use.

Gemini wants to read your emails, calendar, and notifications to help you before you even ask

Gemini's Proactive Assistance doesn't just respond to what you ask; it watches what's coming, reads what you've allowed it to see, and gets ahead of your day. Google's vision for Gemini has always been an AI assistant that works for you proactively, without being summoned, and that vision is finally taking shape. A deep dive into the latest Google app beta, by 9To5Google, uncovers code for a feature called "Proactive Assistance." As the name suggests, the feature is designed to deliver personalized suggestions when you need them the most, without you typing a single word or summoning Gemini. How does Proactive Assistance actually work? The feature doesn't just let Gemini loose on your digital life. During setup, users can select the apps the AI assistant can access. Google's Gmail and Calendar are the given examples, but the feature should also be able to read your incoming notifications and understand what's on your screen (only if you let it). Recommended Videos It's worth mentioning here that Google already showcased the concept at I/O 2025 with an excellent example. Gemini noticed a test on your Calendar and proactively sent you a notification with a practice quiz generated using Gemini AI. The previously named "Your Day" feed has also been quietly renamed "Daily Brief," which is likely the first visible portion of the broader Proactive Assistance rollout. Is any of this data leaving your phone? Fortunately, no, and that's one of the headline privacy details. Everything the assistance accesses is processed in a private, encrypted environment directly on the device; none of its data feeds into Google's AI model training. While Proactive Assistance sounds exciting, keep in mind that the feature was discovered in an APK teardown, and none of the information shared by the outlet has been officially confirmed by Google.

Google tests Proactive Assistance feature for Gemini

Google is developing a feature called "Proactive Assistance" for its Gemini platform, which delivers context-aware suggestions based on user activity, according to Android Authority. The feature integrates data from on-screen content, notifications, and selected apps such as Contacts, Messages, Gmail, and Calendar. Proactive Assistance processes all data on-device in an encrypted environment, ensuring that it is not used for AI training or human reviews. This approach underscores Google's commitment to user privacy while enhancing the functionality of its Gemini platform. Earlier this year, Google introduced Personal Intelligence, which aims to provide relevant suggestions from applications including Gmail, Photos, YouTube, and Search. Proactive Assistance seeks to take this capability further by offering timely suggestions even before users make specific inquiries. The feature, discovered in the Google app (version 17.18.22.sa.arm64), can be activated or deactivated within the Gemini settings menu. Users have control over the apps that feed data into Proactive Assistance, with initial compatibility for Contacts and Messages. Additional integrations such as Gmail and Calendar will be categorized under "Personal Intelligence apps" in the connected apps dashboard. According to the in-app description, Proactive Assistance relies on three primary sources: current screen content, notifications, and data from permitted apps. The goal is to provide users with contextually relevant suggestions, including reminders and quick actions, at the moment they are most helpful. Google has not announced a public rollout date for Proactive Assistance, but the feature appears to be well-developed and may be released soon.