Google Now can pencil in appointments automatically

By Chuong H Nguyen
last updated

Google Now can now infer events that are not yet in your calendar but that you may have been talking about in your Gmail conversation. By scanning your email, Google can now suggest a calendar card in Google Now and ask if you want to add events that it has inferred into your books.

This would be a great feature for those who are planning things in a chain email, but at the end of the day no one was motivated enough to create a calendar invitation. Rather than leave things to chance, or memory, Google Now can take the hassle out of blocking out your calendar and remind you when the time comes.

Google Now can scan your emails and suggest appointments to you

The feature is said to be rolling out to some users at this time and may not be available for all; we aren't seeing it on our phones just yet. Google is really hammering down on this anticipatory search to present you with useful information even before you need it. Google Now already tracks sports score, flight information, packages, and sends you your boarding pass.

We'll have to see if Google will apply the same predictive algorithms to scan your Google Hangouts chats and Hangouts SMS on your phone for a similar predictive appointment scheduling feature.

Have you noticed this update on Google's backend? If so, let us know how you like it.

Source: Android Police

Chuong H Nguyen
Chuong H Nguyen
49 Comments
  • Nothing yet, but I was talking about a camping trip to my friend's in my email the last couple of days, so we'll see if anything pops up. Verizon HTC One (M7) in California.
  • Yes! Google Now just asked me if I want to schedule time in my calendar to watch the Kings kick the Rangers' butts in what is to be the final game of the NHL Stanley Cup finals tomorrow night. Posted via Android Central App
  • OK this one goes a bit far Posted via Android Central App
  • How so? Posted via Android Central App
  • All your base will be googles. I agree. Google now is getting creepy. Posted via Android Central App
  • It is John Hancock
  • How is this going too far? Think of google as a secretary. A co-worker calls your secretary, and tells them about an upcoming business meeting. So at this point, the secretary already knows about the meeting. Is it somehow a bad thing if the secretary then asked you if they should add that meeting to your schedule? No new information has changed hands. It's still the same secretary. They're simply using information already given to them, in a slightly different way, to provide an extra service to you.
  • +1 Posted via Android Central App
  • I would like to +1 this too.
  • But what if that same secretary wants to stop by your house because "they were in the neighborhood" and just want to say "hi" to your family.
  • Exactly! Some people want to ignore the potential bad of something like this. Technology CAN go too far Nexus 5 4.4.2
    Got sideload?
  • So you're... worried about Google visiting your house?
  • Don't want it? Don't use it and don't kvetch about it. Posted via Android Central App
  • I love when people say this. Cracks me up, like you guys are all double 0 agents for MI6. I'm in the military and at times discuss things far more secretive than "where are we meeting on thursday for a beer after the softball game", yet i'm not worried about my "super secret spy life" being discovered by Google. Sometimes people over inflate the importance of their lives, to the point where they're just a bit too paranoid about things like this...
  • I do not want anything scanning my email. Is Google the next NSA? Posted via Android Central App
  • You do know that Google already scans your email, right?
  • All the lolz
  • They already do. Posted via Android Central App
  • For "Ad" purposes
  • That makes it OK, obviously. Posted via Android Central App
  • I suggest you never, ever send an email from work and you should really stick to hand delivering written messages. Google's fighting the government regarding NSA type affairs and has always promoted being open and honest. Much more than many companies have remotely dreamed of doing. Most people want this sort of convenience, and you don't have to use it if you do not. Cliche, yes, but it's the truth.
  • Not sure whether to be creeped out or to enjoy that Google is doing everything for me. Posted via Android Central App
  • I certainly enjoy it. If somebody sends you an email about a meeting, to your Gmail account, then Google already has the information. Big whoop. And if they can use that information to provide useful services to me, I don't see what the issue is. It's no different than the email "scanning" software that gives you a Google Now card when a package that you ordered shipped, or if you have an upcoming reservation or flight.
  • I enjoy it too.
  • Ah! Give me this and Google voice and make me happy, please!
  • Yeaaaaaah......this isn't cool, not cool at all, its bad enough they scan emails for ads, now Googles looking at even MORE specific information to create appointments for you..O_o. so you and your wife/girlfriend/boyfriend/whatever are talking about makings some time for da boom boom, and Google reads that and sets up an appointment for you O_O....and yeah, i'm sure NOOOOOBODY could see this information..... "...your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should"~Dr. Ian Malcom (Jeff Goldblum) / Jurassic Park 1993
  • It's information that google already has, in your Gmail account. Simply one arm of Google (Gmail) communicating with another arm of Google (Google Now). From a data standpoint, it's no different than forwarding an email to yourself.
  • what are you talking about? I don't see how scanning personal emails, without attachments, helps google provide me with focused advertisements. Thats because they aren't. this is like your neighbor listening to you're phone call between your friend and yourself, you guys talk about playing tennis, and when you leave your house your neighbor ask if you're in the mood to play tennis later..... Yeah, he could use a baby monitor to listen to your call (analog days), but should he.....heck no! The only thing that would slightly make is ok is if Google were to make to operations of the algorithm transparent
  • You do realize that Google Now is an Opt-in Service right? You don't have to turn this on.
  • +1 Posted via Android Central App
  • It's nothing at all like that scenario.
    A.) This isn't some creeper listening in on your calls or going over your emails, it's a computer and some software. The same one that scans through your emails to sell targeted ads (what, you think Google created and maintains Gmail out of the goodness of their hearts?).
    B.) You agreed to Google's privacy policy, which is pretty clear about the whole scanning/advertising thing. Using your scenario, this would be like you going to your neighbor and explicitly telling them that they may listen to your conversations, in exchange for useful services. Don't want to let your neighbor listen? Opt out or stop using Gmail and Google Now.
    C.) You act like Google is forwarding your emails to the rest of the world. They aren't. They're taking the information sent to you via email, and sending that same information to you in a different way. No information is changing hands. Instead of Sender>Gmail>You via gmail, it's Sender>Gmail>You via GoogleNow. Again, no different than forwarding an email to yourself.
  • It's more like hiring a free private secretary to listen to your conversations and provide reminders. Wait a minute... Is Google looking to replace my wife? Posted via Android Central App
  • Not even... an assistant would actually be able to form an opinion/understand the information.
  • You (krifor03) don't think Google delivers you targeted ads based on the content of your email? You haven't been paying attention. Google's been doing this since gmail first rolled out on an invitation only basis. The onloy reason gmail exists is so Google can use it to target you. If you, or anyone else, is worried about Google's computers scanning your email, web searches, and pretty much everything else you do online, you need to stop using Google Services and Android RIGHT NOW! Seriously, there is nothing Google offers that isn't feeding info about you to Google's advertising business.
  • I understand being creeped by this but who the hell plans the boom boom via email!? Posted via Android Central App
  • Krifor, did you actually READ the article? Or look at the picture? gNow will OFFER to place an event on your calendar. It won't do it automatically.
  • This is exactly what I want Google Now to do. I want the most useful information given to me without asking. Don't like it? There is an option to opt out. But don't think for a second that this was the plan all along. Google even said it will give you such information. How did you think they would get that info?
    Posted via Android Central App
  • Wow....I am curious to see this work.
  • I'm surprised no one has already asked, but what kind of case is that behind the phone? Posted via Android Central App
  • What about hangouts? Create event based on conversation Posted via Android Central App
  • I'm sure this is next. I would bet more people plan stuff through text than email anyway. Posted via Android Central App
  • Can't we already access our Hangouts conversations in Gmail? If so, then it probably already works with Hangouts too.
  • Great. Now I just need some friends n5
  • Haha
  • Love it. I think it will be extremely helpful Posted via Android Central App
  • It'll be way more useful in texts... who even emails people anymore???
  • I've had this for a couple of weeks in Ireland. Is useful but not consistent enough to rely on as an automatic scheduler. Posted via Android Central App
  • I had a reminder yesterday. Not sure when Google switched this on for me, but its working now. The wife received an email last week about a local fair that was happening this weekend. In the week she forwarded the email to me, adding "do you want to go?" Then on Saturday morning, I had a Google now card appear. Pretty cool. I find Google Now very useful, and have GEL installed on my phone, to take full advantage of it. But if you find this creepy, then just opt out. Its not for everyone, and that's fine. Posted via Android Central App
  • I noticed this about a month or so ago when I was emailed an itinerary. Got a notification later that day that flight was going to be delayed. Very cool.