Slack is doubling down on AI with new tools designed to boost productivity and streamline team communication. The platform, owned by Salesforce, is rolling out features like AI-powered writing assistance, smart message context, and automated summaries to help users work more efficiently.
One of the key additions is AI writing assistance built directly into Slack Canvas. Users can now generate project briefs, refine meeting notes, create FAQs, and even assign action items using simple natural-language prompts. This follows a broader trend, with companies like Google and Apple also integrating similar AI writing tools into their productivity suites.
Another useful feature is AI message context, which helps users decode internal jargon and project-specific terms. By hovering over a message, Slack will pull relevant context to explain acronyms, team shorthand, or unfamiliar references—ideal for new hires navigating company lingo. The platform will also offer AI-generated channel recaps and thread summaries, making it easier to catch up on ongoing discussions without scrolling through lengthy conversations.
For those focused on high-priority tasks, Slack’s AI will intelligently prioritize notifications, only interrupting when an update is urgent or more important than the current work. This aims to reduce distractions while keeping users informed.
Slack is also expanding AI translation, allowing team members to communicate in their preferred language, and enhancing Enterprise Search, which now pulls data from connected apps like Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, and Google Drive.
These AI tools are rolling out to paid Slack plans, with availability varying by subscription tier. Features like Enterprise Search, channel recaps, and AI meeting notes are already live, while message explanations, action items, and profile summaries will arrive later this year.
Slack’s aggressive AI push aligns with Salesforce’s broader strategy, as the company continues to integrate machine learning across its products. While these tools promise efficiency gains, they also follow reports of Slack using chat data to train its models—a practice that has raised some privacy concerns. Still, for teams looking to streamline workflows, these AI enhancements could be a game-changer.
