Abstract: A method for determining availability of a user for interaction with a digital assistant comprises: determining if the user is present in a predetermined proximity to an input/output (I/O) device; collecting, at least real-time data about the user and historical user-agent interaction data for the user when the user is present; determining, a current user availability score based on at least the collected real-time data and the historical user-agent interaction data to derive an optimal time for interaction initiation by the digital assistant; and executing a plan selected from amongst a plurality of plans, the selected plan having a user availability score best matching the current user availability score, wherein each of the plurality of plans is designed to be executed by the digital assistant via the I/O device.