Apple announced ‘Proactive,’ its long rumored Google Now competitor. With an update to Siri arriving in iOS 9, Proactive is a more privacy-focused alternative to Google Now.
Using data stored locally on the device in apps like Calendar and Wallet (instead of in the cloud), Proactive can tell you things like when to leave for an appointment based on traffic conditions, and it can automatically suggest apps to launch or people to contact based on usage patterns.
It also includes location-based recommendations for things like restaurants as well as breaking news, among other things.
That being said, while arguably more invasive with regard to user privacy, Google Now’s ability to tap into the vast amount of data Google knows about its users means its assistant may still have the advantage in terms of the sort of assistance it can offer.
The move to go wireless one-ups Android Auto, whose team is still evaluating wireless solutions.
