ChatGPT can do a lot of things himala can’t—but here’s our edge

In a candid moment of self-reflection, we’re going head-to-head with the Leviathan of AI: ChatGPT.

ChatGPT, with all its models, is phenomenal at so many things: drafting essays, debugging code, and acting therapist. It can craft thoughtful emails, generate creative headlines, and research obscure historical facts. It remembers context, adapts to your style, and maintains coherence across long, winding conversations, rarely losing track of your original point, even when your prompts veer wildly off course.

But for all the flying colors ChatGPT passes with, there’s one crucial trait it embodies that himala deliberately does not—passivity.

The spectrum of AI reactiveness

When we discuss AI, it’s tempting to categorize it neatly: either passive, responding only when prompted, or proactive, anticipating your needs before you’ve articulated them. But the reality isn’t binary, and that’s important to bear in mind as we proceed. AI reactiveness is a spectrum.

On one end, passive AI tools wait patiently for explicit commands, excelling at tasks precisely defined by the user. On the other hand, proactive AI continuously observes patterns and context, offering insights and suggestions unprompted. 

Were we tempted into the very dichotomy we’ve warned against, himala would lean proactive, ChatGPT passive; however, the boundary between them remains blurry in practice.

Let’s unpack the subtle differences between these AI modes more concretely, examining precisely how himala's proactive anticipation contrasts with ChatGPT's responsive versatility.

himala—a proactive AI

The word “proactive” comes from “pro,” meaning “before,” and “active,” meaning “acting.” It first appeared in the 1930s within psychology and learning theory, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. Fast forward to today, and proactivity has evolved from psychological theory into an AI trait exemplified by tools like himala.

himala is programmed to be ahead of you, not in the all-knowing, encyclopedic way ChatGPT is ahead of you, but in the quieter art of anticipating your next move. When you wake up, himala has already sifted through your calendar, emails, and documents, delivering a concise, actionable briefing tailored to your day. 

himala plugs into your digital life, learns from your routines, and recognizes the subtle patterns of your workday: the meetings you tend to prioritize, the emails you usually answer first, and the topics that most frequently require your attention. Every morning, this insight is distilled into a concise, high-impact email to start your day in clutter-free confidence.

Just as you would prompt ChatGPT for refinement, you can actively guide himala by manually fine-tuning its priorities and preferences by explicitly adjusting settings or indicating what's most important using a prompt.

This interactive element enables you to achieve an exceptional level of specificity. For instance, you can wake up to:

• A “synonym of the day” tailored to words you repeatedly used yesterday, nudging you toward more precise language.

• Reminders of unresolved tasks based specifically on notes or comments you left open in documents.

• A briefing on industry news directly tied to topics you’ve researched recently.

• Suggested follow-up actions derived from commitments you’ve previously indicated in your correspondence.

himala embodies proactivity by anticipating your daily tasks. Yet, it maintains an element of passivity and reactiveness by inviting manual prompts, explicit setting adjustments, and specific user input to refine and guide its priorities. Good AI—like good conversation—requires a delicate balance: it should know when to speak up and when to quietly listen, offering suggestions but never presuming too much.

ChatGPT—a reactive AI

Long before technology learned to anticipate our needs proactively, it was all fundamentally reactive—a phone ringing only after dialing, a printer starting only after receiving a command.

ChatGPT is built firmly in this tradition: it waits patiently to follow your lead. As a generative AI, its core strength lies in rapidly synthesizing responses based precisely on your prompts. Rather than predicting your next move as its main focus, ChatGPT listens, interprets, and generates language, code, images, or ideas tailored to your requests, engaging in a dynamic exchange that thrives on clear, intentional input.

In the same way, himala, while predominantly proactive, incorporates elements of reactive responsiveness; ChatGPT, though mainly reactive, demonstrates proactivity. It anticipates context by remembering your previous messages, adapting its tone to your conversational style, and suggesting possible follow-up topics.

Head-to-head—himala and ChatGPT

By now, you’ve probably come to understand that, without becoming too black-and-white, himala leans proactive, while ChatGPT predominantly leans reactive. But beyond anticipation and response, there are additional differences between the two that stem directly from this fundamental distinction.

Conversational vs. Operational

ChatGPT: Built for rich conversational engagement; answering questions, brainstorming creatively, and generating dynamic responses.

himala: Optimized for operational efficiency; organizing tasks, streamlining your schedule, and proactively preparing your day.

Breadth vs. Depth

ChatGPT: Covers an immense range of topics and is adaptable to diverse queries and areas of knowledge.

himala: Deeply specialized around your personal workflow, providing focused insights tailored specifically to your tasks and preferences.

Prompt-driven vs. Pattern-driven

ChatGPT: Driven by prompts, thriving on explicit instructions from the user.

himala: Driven by recognition of subtle patterns in your behavior and workflow.

General Knowledge vs. Personalized Context

ChatGPT: Equipped to explore extensive general knowledge and external contexts effectively.

himala: Focuses explicitly on your personalized context—your meetings, emails, and specific way of life.

This comparison offers only a brief glance at the surface-level distinctions between himala and ChatGPT; the reality is that their capabilities frequently overlap. 

For instance, himala does possess extensive general knowledge; it needs this broader understanding to contextualize and prioritize your industry-specific news or meetings effectively. Similarly, ChatGPT, while renowned for its breadth, can dive deeply into specialized topics if guided with precise prompts. 

Ultimately, both tools combine proactive anticipation and reactive responsiveness in different proportions, demonstrating the nuanced spectrum on which practical AI operates. The perfect AI would inhabit the delicate space between quietly anticipating your thoughts and thoughtfully responding to them. 

Who is himala for?

himala is for anyone who wants a calmer, more deliberate day. Whether you’re a founder juggling investor decks, a student balancing classes and a part-time job, a parent coordinating school pickups, or simply someone who prefers a tidy inbox and a clear plan, himala acts as an invisible chief of staff. It surfaces the briefings, reminders, and follow-ups you’ll need before you ask, then steps aside so your own judgment can take center stage.