When you want something from Apple's Siri, you have to ask. But a coming wave of smart-assistant features won't sit around waiting for you.
Instead they'll be proactive, using your history, location and other data to offer up information and execute tasks automatically, before you even ask.
Early predictive tools like Google Now have mostly been stand-alone products. Google already has a wealth of data about individual users, including their search history, location information, emails and calendars. In mobile apps, Google Now uses that data to display information, like commute traffic and sports scores, that it knows you'll be interested in.
Some companies have already started adding anticipatory features to their products. The new Tesla will start up for you in the morning before you enter the garage, using information from your calendar and past departure times to figure out when you usually leave. The Nest smart thermostat uses your heating and cooling history to keep your home at an optimal temperature without wasting energy.
Tech companies have amassed valuable information on customers, but many aren't willing to share with one another. And some people are uncomfortable with the idea of giving apps and services access to their personal data unless there is a big payoff in quality of life.
Still, even with these privacy issues and technical hurtles, the predictive-computing trend is already underway.
