Slack is redefining its iconic virtual assistant, Slackbot, giving it a powerful AI-driven upgrade that turns it from a simple notification helper into a conversational productivity partner.
Unveiled during Salesforce’s Dreamforce Conference in San Francisco, the new Slackbot 2.0 is designed to understand natural language, execute commands, summarize information, and even perform tasks on behalf of users — much like ChatGPT.
Previously, Slackbot handled reminders, updates, and basic queries. But with this major transformation, the assistant will now be capable of processing complex requests, analyzing documents, and offering real-time project insights directly inside Slack channels.
Smarter, connected, and action-oriented
The upgraded Slackbot integrates seamlessly with top AI models and productivity tools, making collaboration faster and more intuitive. Slack has announced partnerships with OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity, allowing users to tag different AI agents within Slack for specialized tasks.
For example, users can mention @Claude to perform a web search or summarize a discussion thread, or use AI prompts to generate reports and automate workflows.
Slackbot will also connect with Google Drive, OneDrive, and Salesforce, enabling users to pull data, review documents, and create summaries without leaving their chat window.
This move reflects Slack’s goal to position itself as the central AI workspace for enterprises, where teams can access, process, and act on information instantly through natural conversation.
Testing in progress — rollout planned for 2026
The AI-powered Slackbot is currently undergoing beta testing with over 70,000 users, according to the company. A full public rollout is expected by January 2026, after which organizations will have the flexibility to activate or disable the new features depending on their preferences.
A Slack spokesperson confirmed that privacy and control remain key priorities. “Users who prefer the traditional Slackbot experience can continue using it without AI features,” the company said.
Slack’s bold upgrade arrives amid a surge of AI integrations across workplace tools. Platforms like Microsoft Teams have already introduced Copilot, while Notion, Canva, and Duolingo are embedding generative AI to boost creativity and efficiency.
As the competition heats up, Slackbot 2.0 could redefine the future of workplace communication — merging productivity, automation, and human-like conversation in one unified platform.
