Slack is introducing several new AI features into its platform, aiming to enhance its functionality with the integration of AI-powered agents from a range of tech companies including Salesforce, Adobe, Anthropic, Cohere, Perplexity, and Writer. This update is part of a broader strategy by Salesforce to evolve Slack into a workspace where users interact seamlessly with various bots and AI agents.
The announcement is timed with Salesforce’s upcoming Dreamforce conference, highlighting Slack’s commitment to expanding its capabilities. The integration of these AI agents is set to broaden the scope of Slack’s utility, moving beyond traditional communication tools to include sophisticated AI interactions.
In addition to these new integrations, Slack is also building on its existing AI features by adding the ability to generate transcripts for informal video chats, or “huddles.” This enhancement aims to improve user experience by making it easier to reference and review these discussions.
This shift reflects Salesforce’s vision of leveraging generative AI to develop autonomous agents that perform tasks independently, rather than just assisting users. Denise Dresser, Slack’s CEO, indicated that this aligns with the goal of positioning Slack as an AI-powered work operating system.
Originally, Slack planned to offer its AI features as a comprehensive package, requiring payment for all users within an organization. However, in response to customer feedback, the company has revised this approach to offer more flexible options for adopting and paying for these new features.