In many ways, Google Now is the precursor to the ever-present artificial intelligence systems that you see in many science fiction films, the ones that exist solely to make our lives easier with alerts and recommendations. Android users especially can attest to its usefulness, which is why its exciting to see that Google Now will be making its way to Chrome OS in the near future.
Anyone who has used Android can attest to the usefulness of Google Now: After all, it conveniently presents useful bits of timely information—weather, traffic, news headlines, and so on—in a clear, easy-to-parse manner. Chrome OS users will soon be able to join the fun, though: According to Google’s François Beaufort, Google Now functionality will make its way into the upcoming Chrome Launcher 2.0. “This new launcher is the best way to start new activities on Chrome OS, like performing a Google search or launching apps,” Beaufort wrote in a post on Google+. “Search has been enhanced to help you find what you are looking for faster, apps you most often use right have been put at your fingertips, and the power of Google Now has been brought to your Chromebook.” The new Launcher 2.0 hits Chrome OS Beta Channel builds this coming week, though it’s still unclear when it will come to the “stable” builds intended for broader consumption (my guess: “when it’s ready”).
