Why Google Is About to Get Even Better at Knowing Your Schedule The search giant's acquisition of Timeful is a play to make products such as Gmail, Calendar and Inbox more efficient at organizing and scheduling events.

By Laura Entis

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Entrepreneur

Google already pulls out events from your emails and automatically adds them to your calendar. Soon, it may be able to do way more than that.

Yesterday Google announced that it has acquired Timeful, a scheduling iOS app that syncs with your calendar and uses machine learning, data analysis and behavioral science to customize your digital calendar in order to optimize time management and quash procrastination, for an undisclosed amount.

The acquisition allows Google to incorporate Timeful's technology into products such as Gmail, Calendar and Google Docs to make them more efficient at organizing and scheduling events.

"We still have to do a lot of logistical work ourselves—like deciding to what time exactly we should snooze that Reminder in order to get it done in time for Mom's birthday, or figuring out when to work on that presentation so that it's ready for next week's sales pitch," Google said in a blog post. "Timeful is joining the Google family to help make getting things done in your life even easier."

Related: This New App Wants to Optimize Your Schedule by Running It Through an Algorithm

Launched last June, Timeful was founded by Yoav Shoham, a serial entrepreneur and artificial-intelligence expert, Dan Ariely, a notable behavioral economist, and Jacob Bank, the company's CEO and a computer science PhD candidate at Stanford. The company raised $7 million from venture-capital firms including Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Data Collective and Ashton Kutcher's A-Grade Investments.

The app takes the sophisticated algorithm-style learning that is already used to predict what song you'd like to listen next (Pandora), what item you'd like to see in your shopping cart (Amazon) or how much money you typically spend on movies and entertainment in a given month (Mint), and applies it to time management.

"In this century we are all busy executives, but we don't all have executive assistants, Shoham told Entrepreneur last July. "In many areas of life, big data has become essential. I think we're now at the point where we can apply it to time. It's too important a topic to leave unaided by technology.

While the app will still be available on iOS (there was never an Android edition), Timeful's 19-person team will now focus on how its technology can be applied to Google products.

Related: The 15 Best Productivity Apps for Getting Things Done

Laura Entis is a reporter for Fortune.com's Venture section.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

Here Are the 10 Highest-Paying Jobs with the Lowest Risk of Being Replaced By AI: 'Safest Jobs Right Now'

A new report from career resources platform Resume Genius finds the top 10 AI-proof careers expected to see the most growth within the next decade.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Science & Technology

How AI Can Free Up Your Time For Less Busywork and More Innovation

If there's one trait every founder needs, it's a willingness to experiment. Today, experimentation is easier and more accessible than ever thanks to AI.

Making a Change

Learn Up to 56 Languages for Just $35

Get lifetime access to the platform that turns language learning into a game.

Science & Technology

How I Went From Side Hustle to 7 Figures Using These 4 AI Tools (No Tech Skills Needed)

Scale faster, work less and grow a 7-figure business — no team needed.

Health & Wellness

How Mastering Your Nervous System Boosts Leadership Presence and Performance

Discover a modern leadership system designed to boost your effectiveness, reduce stress and bring more clarity and joy to how you lead.