Salesforce has unveiled an updated version of Slack with 30 new AI features aimed at enhancing business productivity. CEO Marc Benioff, alongside his team, presented these updates at a gathering in San Francisco.
This update seeks to position Slack beyond a mere communication tool, allowing it to handle various business tasks efficiently. With approximately one million businesses using Slack, Salesforce aims to leverage AI to reduce employee workload and streamline operations.
The most significant enhancement is the introduction of “reusable AI-skills,” enabling users to define specific tasks for the Slackbot. Once created, these skills can be utilized in various contexts, significantly decreasing the amount of manual work required from users.
For instance, a command such as “create a budget” prompts Slackbot to gather information from Slack channels and other connected applications to compile an actionable plan. The bot automatically schedules meetings with relevant team members based on their roles.
Now acting as a Model Context Protocol (MCP) client, Slackbot can also connect to external services. It can route work queries to Agentforce, Salesforce’s AI agent development platform launched in 2024, enhancing its ability to navigate tasks without human input.
Rob Seaman, Slack’s interim CEO, indicated that Slackbot’s new capabilities include transcription and summarization of meetings. Participants who miss details can request a recap, which includes assigned action items.
Additionally, Slackbot can monitor desktop activities, analyzing data from deals, conversations, and calendars to provide actionable recommendations or draft follow-up communications. Privacy protections are integrated, allowing users to customize their permissions.
Benioff noted the five-year journey since Salesforce acquired Slack has resulted in “two and a half times revenue growth.” He emphasized that this growth is part of a larger strategy to evolve Slack into an essential tool in enterprise workflows.
