9. The method of claim 8 , wherein a user privacy setting specifies a sharing-authorized category of the user activity that the user authorizes the personal agent program to send to the recommendation server with the request for the recommendation.
8. A method for retrieving recommendations on behalf of a user, comprising: displaying a recommendation graphical user interface on a display of a user computing device; monitoring user activity with a plurality of computer programs according to a user authorization, the user activity including a detected current location of and direction of travel of the user and calendar activity of the user; learning a behavioral pattern from the user activity; receiving notifications of monitored friend activity of a friend using a friend computing device, the friend activity including a detected current location of and direction of travel of the friend and calendar activity of the friend; estimating that the user and the friend will approach an intersecting location within a predetermined window of time, based on the respective detected current locations and directions of travel of the user and the friend; determine that the user and the friend are available to meet in the predetermined time window based on calendar information; sending a request to a recommendation server for a recommendation for a target service offered at a service location within a threshold distance of the intersecting location, which can facilitate a meeting between the user and the friend; receiving the recommendation from the recommendation server, the recommendation including a recommended service offered at the service location; and displaying the recommendation to meet the friend at the service location on a display associated with the user computing device.