In a major leap toward smarter workplace automation, Slack has officially begun testing a new version of Slackbot — redesigned as a personalized AI companion. The move marks a shift from Slackbot’s traditional role as a simple reminder tool to becoming a powerful AI assistant that can organize, summarize, and personalize workflows for every user.
A Complete Redesign for Smarter Productivity
According to Rob Seaman, Chief Product Officer at Slack (a Salesforce company), the upgrade completely reimagines Slackbot’s capabilities.
“Slackbot today is fairly rudimentary,” Seaman told The Verge. “But what we’ve done is rebuild it from the ground up as a personalized AI companion.”
The new AI-powered Slackbot can now:
- Create customized task plans tailored to your workspace.
- Search and summarize messages across channels using natural language.
- Pull data from conversations, files, and threads to provide quick answers.
- Integrate with tools like Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook for meeting coordination.
This upgrade transforms how teams interact with Slack — turning everyday communication into a dynamic, AI-assisted workflow.
How the New Slackbot Works
As part of the pilot rollout, Slackbot appears as an icon beside the search bar at the top of the workspace. Clicking it opens a chat-style side panel where users can type prompts such as “What are my priorities for today?” or “Find the latest updates on a project.”
The personalized AI companion then analyzes workspace data to deliver relevant, actionable results. In internal demos, Slack showcased how Slackbot could compile a product launch plan inside a Canvas, gather input from multiple channels, and even help draft a social media campaign consistent with a brand’s tone.
Natural Language Search Comes to Slack
One of the standout features of this update is natural language search. Users no longer need to remember exact keywords to find files or messages. You can simply ask, “Find the document Jay shared during our last meeting,” and the AI companion will retrieve it instantly.
This innovation not only saves time but also bridges the gap between human intent and AI precision — making Slack’s interface far more intuitive.
AI Features Built with Privacy and Security in Mind
Slack has emphasized that its AI features operate securely through Amazon Web Services’ virtual private cloud, ensuring that user data stays protected.
“No data leaves the firewall, and none is used to train AI models,” Seaman confirmed.
Companies can opt out of the new AI Slackbot, though individuals within a workspace cannot.
Part of Slack’s Growing AI Ecosystem
The personalized AI companion builds on Slack’s growing suite of AI tools, including thread summarization, jargon decoding, and automated insights. Seaman hinted that more features are on the way:
“We’ll keep putting those little touches there where they make sense, to save users a click.”
Slackbot’s classic features — like automated messages and command responses — will remain available alongside the AI-powered enhancements.
Testing and Rollout Timeline
The upgraded Slackbot is already in use by 70,000 Salesforce employees and is now being tested by select customers. Slack plans a full rollout of its personalized AI companion to all users by the end of the year.
With this update, Slack is positioning itself as not just a communication hub but a smart workspace powered by generative AI — helping teams organize, collaborate, and execute tasks faster than ever.
A New Era of AI-Powered Collaboration
By reimagining Slackbot as a personalized AI companion, Slack is setting a new standard for how AI integrates into daily workflows. The upgrade underscores the company’s vision of using artificial intelligence not just to assist — but to understand and anticipate workplace needs.
As this update rolls out globally, Slack is on track to redefine digital collaboration for teams of every size.