Slack is adding some exciting new tools to become more than just a messaging app. The company is turning its Slackbot helper into a more powerful, personalized AI assistant. This new version can do tasks like draft content, schedule meetings, and find important files. It’s part of Slack’s plan to make the platform the central “agentic OS” for Salesforce’s business apps.

Revamped Slackbot Brings Smarter Help

For years, users could ask Slackbot simple questions or request reminders in channels or direct messages. Now, the updated Slackbot will be more capable. It will be accessible from a button at the top of the app, making it easier to summon. Once activated, it can answer questions by pulling information from conversations, files, and connected apps like Google Drive and OneDrive.

This upgraded Slackbot can do more than just answer questions. It can draft emails, summarize lengthy reports, and even help organize meetings. For example, it can check colleagues’ calendars to find the best time for everyone to meet. It can also prepare a meeting agenda and suggest relevant documents before the call. This makes planning much faster and more efficient.

AI Integration and Future Plans

The new Slackbot runs on large language models provided by third-party suppliers, hosted securely on Amazon Web Services. Initially, it will only access data within a Slack workspace. However, Slack plans to add web data access later, allowing it to pull in information from the internet and other sources.

Slack also has plans to let users build their own AI agents without coding. They recently released developer tools to connect with third-party AI assistants. This will open the door for custom automation and smarter workflows within Slack.

Another big addition is the channel agent, which is now generally available. Found directly in a Slack channel, this “always-on teammate” can answer questions about shared projects. It’s included free for Slack Business+ plans and above, making team collaboration even smoother.

Enhanced Search and New Salesforce Integrations

Search capabilities are getting a boost too. Users can now search across connected apps like Gmail, Dropbox, and Notion—all from within Slack. This feature is live on the Enterprise+ plan and helps teams find what they need faster without switching apps.

These updates are part of Salesforce’s broader goal. They want Slack to be the main interface for working with Salesforce’s business tools. To support this vision, new integrations are rolling out with four Salesforce Agentforce agents. For example, the IT Service agent can help employees reset passwords or create “incident channels” for complex issues. It automatically includes relevant team members and data to speed up problem resolution.

All of these features aim to make Slack a more intelligent, connected platform for business. By integrating AI tools and deepening Salesforce connections, Slack is shaping up as a central hub for work automation and collaboration. This could change how teams operate daily, making work faster, easier, and more organized.

Inspired by

• https://www.computerworld.com/article/4071520/slacks-slackbot-is-now-a-fully-fledged-ai-assistant.html

Sources

• gmpg.org
• cio.com
• asbpe.org
• eddie-ozzie.com
• podigee.com