Story
When I start a task that takes many minutes, I want to leave and be told when it is done or needs me, so I can get on with my day without checking back.
Thandi, who runs a small packaging business in Johannesburg, starting a supplier search on her phone before a meeting.
- 01 Setting
Thandi asks for 10 suppliers of recycled boxes near Johannesburg, with prices.
- 02 Trigger
It will take about 10 minutes, and her meeting starts in 2.
- 03 Without it
She leaves and forgets. 2 hours later she finds the task stuck on 1 question since 9:51.
- 04 With it
She taps Start and goes to her meeting. The task keeps going, with a small live status.
- 05 Outcome
At 9:53 a notification says it is ready. 1 tap opens the supplier table.
Live demo
This demo follows a script, so it plays the same every time - there is no real AI behind it. Change a setting to see the same moment play out differently.
What happens, step by step
| State | The person sees | The AI is | When | Screen reader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Her ask in the chat. | Plans the work. | 0 s | - |
| 2 | "This takes about 10 minutes. It keeps going if you close the app." A Notify me switch is on. Start. | Waits for Start. | before it starts | - |
| 3 | "Searching supplier sites · 4 of 10", a bar, "You can leave", and Stop. | Works in the cloud (on a server, not on her phone). | minutes | “Research started. About 10 minutes” |
| 4 | Another app. A small live status at the top: "Research · 6 of 10". | Keeps working. | - | - |
| 5 | A notification: "Supplier research is ready" with the result in 1 line - or "needs you" with the question. | Done, or paused for 1 answer. | when it ends or needs her | “Supplier research is ready” |
| 6 | The result, "Done in 9 min", with the table - or the question with Allow once and Skip this site. | Idle, or goes on after her answer. | on tap | - |
| 7 | Without a notification she comes back by chance at 11:40: "Waiting for you since 9:51 - 2 hours". | Stuck, or long done. | hours later | - |
On each device
- phone
- The phone starts the task, follows it and answers it. The work runs in the cloud. A notification, also on the lock screen, opens straight to the result or the question.
- tablet
- As on the phone.
- desktop
- The task keeps running in its tab or a task list. A system notification appears when it ends, and the result shows next to the chat.
When to use it
- The work takes minutes or more - research, long reports, tasks for an agent (an AI that can take actions for you).
- People have other things to do and shouldn't have to watch.
- The task may stop to ask a question, so people need to know when it is waiting on them.
- The answer comes within about 10 seconds. People will wait for it. Use Specific loading messages instead.
- People want to watch each step and step in. Use Watch mode and takeover instead.
- The task should run again and again on a schedule. Use Scheduled and background agents instead.
The parts of the pattern
- AName and time"Supplier research · about 10 min". A time people can plan around.
- BLive progress"4 of 10", with a bar. Real progress, so a glance says how far it got.
- CLeave and be toldSays leaving is safe and that a notification will come when it ends or needs her.
- DStopAlways there while it runs. Stopping says what was kept.
Do and Avoid
Assistant · now
Supplier research is ready
10 suppliers compared. Cheapest: GreenBox, R4.20 a box.
Assistant · now
Your task has an update
Assistant · 9:51
Supplier research needs you
Can I sign in to Boxit Trade to see their prices?
Opened by chance at 11:40
Waiting for you since 9:51 - 2 hours
Writing and accessibility
- Give the time before it starts, as people would say it: "about 10 minutes".
- Say plainly that leaving is safe: "It keeps going if you close the app."
- Title the notification with the task and its state: "Supplier research is ready", "Supplier research needs you". Put the result or the question in the body.
- Send 1 notification when it ends or needs an answer - not 1 per step.
- Announce the start with the time: "Research started. About 10 minutes".
- Tapping the notification opens the result or the question. Focus lands on its title, not at the top of the chat.
- Progress has a text count ("4 of 10") as well as a bar.
- Never rely on sound alone. The notification text and the chat both carry the news.
Seen in real products
- Gemini Deep ResearchWeb and mobile · Oct 2026Takes about 5-10 minutes and people can leave the chat. On the web the report appears next to the thread; on mobile a device notification says it is ready.Gemini Help: Deep Research ↗
- Claude DispatchPhone and desktop · Oct 2026People assign a task from their phone and their computer does the work. A push notification comes when it is done or when it needs approval.Claude Help: Assign tasks to Claude from anywhere in Cowork ↗
- ChatGPT agentWeb and apps · Jul 2025Sent a phone notification when a task was done. The agent has since been replaced by ChatGPT Work.OpenAI: Introducing ChatGPT agent (17 Jul 2025) ↗
Each example comes from the product’s help pages, release notes or teardowns, with the month it was checked. Products change every month - tell us when 1 is out of date.
Check yourself
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