A system is described that determines, based on information associated with a user of a computing device, an event for initiating an interaction between the user and an assistant executing at the computing device. The system selects, based on the event and from a plurality of actions performed by the assistant, at least one action associated with the event. The system determines, based on the at least one action, whether to output a notification of the event which includes an indication of the event and a request to perform the at least one action associated with the event. Responsive to determining to output the notification of the event, the system sends, to the assistant, the notification of the event for output during the interaction between the user and the assistant.