Trace

Product Introduction

1. Trace is an AI-powered scheduling application designed to eliminate manual calendar planning by automatically generating schedules from user inputs such as text messages, voice notes, or screenshots. It bypasses traditional form-based interfaces to create, update, or delete events instantly using natural language processing and image recognition. The app integrates with major calendar platforms like Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, and Outlook while prioritizing local data storage for privacy.
2. The core value of Trace lies in its ability to reduce time spent on administrative tasks by 90%, enabling users to focus on execution rather than planning. It achieves this through context-aware AI that accurately interprets scheduling intent from unstructured inputs, eliminating the need for repetitive edits. The app’s frictionless design ensures compatibility with both power users and those who traditionally avoid calendar apps.

Main Features

1. Trace supports multi-modal input processing, allowing users to create events via text messages, voice commands, or screenshots of schedules. The AI extracts dates, times, and contextual details like meeting agendas from these inputs using a combination of GPT and Gemini models optimized for temporal reasoning. This eliminates manual data entry while maintaining compatibility with natural human communication patterns.
2. The app provides real-time synchronization with Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, and Outlook through native iOS/macOS calendar APIs. Events created in Trace automatically appear across all linked devices without requiring separate authentication workflows. Users retain full control over calendar visibility and permissions through Apple’s system-level privacy settings.
3. Hands-free operation is enabled through system integrations like Apple Shortcuts and Back Tap gestures. For example, double-tapping the iPhone’s back panel triggers Trace’s screenshot analyzer to convert a captured timetable into calendar events. The Action Button on iPhone 15 Pro series devices can be configured to launch voice-based scheduling with one press.

Problems Solved

1. Trace addresses the inefficiency of traditional calendar apps that require 15+ steps to create a single event, as seen in Apple Calendar’s form-heavy workflow. By contrast, Trace reduces this to a single action—speaking, typing, or sharing a screenshot—while automatically populating all event metadata. This solves the problem of fragmented scheduling workflows that disrupt productivity.
2. The app specifically targets busy professionals, caregivers, and freelancers who juggle multiple responsibilities but lack time for manual planning. For example, healthcare workers can verbally dictate shift changes while parents can screenshot school timetables for automatic parsing.
3. A typical use case involves a user forwarding an email containing “Lunch with Alex at Café Luna, 12:30 PM Thursday” to Trace, which then creates a calendar event with the correct time, location, and participant details. Another scenario includes taking a photo of a conference agenda poster, from which Trace extracts session times and topics into a multi-day schedule.

Unique Advantages

1. Unlike clunky AI schedulers that require post-processing corrections, Trace achieves 98% accuracy in initial event creation by combining multiple AI models for cross-verification. For instance, GPT-4 handles natural language ambiguity while Gemini validates extracted dates against real-world calendars to prevent hallucinated time slots.
2. The app innovates with context-preserving reminders that attach original user inputs to events. A voice note saying “Reschedule dentist to next week” keeps the audio clip linked to the updated event, providing auditability absent in competitors like Reclaim.ai.
3. Competitive advantages include full offline functionality for core features and Apple-first optimization, leveraging iOS/macOS frameworks like Core ML for on-device processing. While alternatives like Motion rely entirely on cloud APIs, Trace processes sensitive data locally, aligning with GDPR and HIPAA compliance requirements for enterprise users.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can I sync Trace with existing Google or Outlook calendars? Yes, Trace automatically integrates with any calendars already added to your Apple Calendar app through iOS/macOS system settings. For standalone Google/Outlook accounts, go to Settings > Calendar > Accounts to enable synchronization without exporting data.
2. How does Trace handle data privacy? All user data is stored locally on devices using Apple’s Secure Enclave, with cloud APIs like OpenAI and Gemini operating in zero-retention mode. Trace never transmits calendar contents to third-party servers beyond the encrypted API calls required for AI processing.
3. Do I need separate subscriptions for iPhone and Mac? No, a single Trace subscription covers all devices linked to your Apple ID, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Event updates sync in real-time via iCloud using end-to-end encryption.
4. What happens if the AI misinterprets my command? Trace allows instant edits through natural language corrections like “Move the 3 PM meeting to 4 PM” directly in the chat interface. The app learns from user feedback, with a 22% reduction in errors observed after two weeks of regular use.
5. Can I use Trace without an internet connection? Core scheduling features like voice-to-calendar and screenshot parsing work offline using on-device ML models. Cloud-dependent features like email-based scheduling require internet access but display clear status indicators.