Salesforce announces an AI-heavy makeover for Slack, with 30 new features
Slack Gets a Powerful AI Upgrade
Salesforce has taken a significant step forward in its AI strategy by announcing a major update to Slack. Revealed by CEO Marc Benioff and his team in San Francisco, Slack will soon feature 30 new AI tools focusing on automation and workplace productivity.
Smarter Slackbot with Customizable Skills
The most notable change is a revamped Slackbot. The AI assistant can now perform agent-like actions such as drafting emails, scheduling meetings, and searching through inboxes for information. A standout feature is the introduction of 'reusable AI-skills,' which let users set up specific tasks for Slackbot to handle. These skills can be applied across various scenarios, and users can either use pre-set options or create custom automations tailored to their needs.
For instance, employees can quickly instruct Slackbot to "create a budget" for an event. In response, Slackbot will gather relevant data from Slack channels and connected business tools, generate a plan, and even schedule a meeting with the appropriate participants.
Deeper Integration and Smarter Automation
Slackbot now acts as a Model Context Protocol (MCP) client, enabling it to connect and coordinate with other enterprise apps and automation services such as Agentforce. This means Slackbot can route work and questions to the most suitable agent or app, streamlining business processes without manual intervention.
Enhanced Meeting Tools and Recommendations
Slackbot gains new meeting productivity features such as transcribing and summarizing calls, keeping everyone up to speed—even if they miss key details. The agent can also operate outside Slack, monitoring business activities and suggesting follow-ups or next steps by analyzing emails, calendars, conversations, and workflows.
User Privacy and Control
Salesforce emphasizes built-in privacy and permissions. Users are able to adjust Slackbot's access to data and control its automations, ensuring workplace confidentiality remains a priority.
Transforming Slack into a Core Business Hub
These updates show Salesforce's vision for Slack as more than just a messaging tool. By integrating extensive AI features, they aim to make Slack central to business operations and workflows. CEO Benioff highlighted the platform's growth and its pivotal role in modern enterprise productivity.
For more details, read the original article by Lucas Ropek at TechCrunch.
