Google patents assistant that suggests actions before you ask
Google describes a method for training a smaller, on-device assistant by learning from a larger conversational model. The system predicts what action the user might want next and suggests it proactively, rather than waiting for a direct command.
In the filing’s own words
Systems and methods for generating a domain-specific conversational automated assistant. In some examples, a conversational language model is used to generate a target answer and a target action recommendation in response to each of a set of in-domain training questions. In some examples, the conversational language model is further used to generate follow-up questions to one or more of its generated target answers, and to then generate a target answer and target action recommendation to each generated follow-up question. In some examples, the processing system also generates a set of out-of-domain training examples including an out-of-domain question, a predetermined target answer, and a predetermined target action recommendation. The automated assistant may then be trained to predict the generated target answers and target action recommendations based on the associated training question or generated follow-up question, as well as any prior questions and answers in the conversation.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A computer-implemented method for providing proactive automated assistance on a device, the method comprising: receiving, by one or more processors of a device, a natural language input from a user; processing the natural language input using an automated assistant resident on the device, wherein the automated assistant has been trained via knowledge distillation from a conversational language model that comprises more parameters than the automated assistant; generating, using the automated assistant, a natural language response to the user input; generating, using the automated assistant, an anticipated system action to be taken by the device based on a context of the user input, wherein the anticipated system action is generated prior to the automated assistant being asked by the user to perform the action; causing presentation of a proactive recommendation to the user that comprises: the generated natural language response; and a prompt asking the user to authorize the anticipated system action; and executing the anticipated system action using a command generated using the automated assistant in response to a user authorization of the prompt.
Facts
- Company
- Google (GOOGLE LLC)
- Official title
- DOMAIN-SPECIFIC CONVERSATIONAL AUTOMATED ASSISTANT
- Publication number
- US20260288791A1
- Application number
- 19698010
- Filed
- Jun 4, 2026
- Published
- Sep 24, 2026
- Inventors
- 5
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06F 16/3329 Physics & computingG06F 16/3344 Physics & computingG06F 40/40 Physics & computingG06N 3/006 Physics & computingG06N 20/00 Physics & computingMore from Google in AI & software
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.