Slackbot Becomes an AI Agent

Slackbot, the automated assistant embedded in Salesforce’s corporate messaging platform Slack, is evolving into an AI agent. Salesforce CTO Parker Harris envisions it achieving viral status comparable to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

The cloud software giant launched the updated Slackbot on Tuesday. Available to Business+ and Enterprise+ customers, this new AI-driven version can locate information, draft emails, and schedule meetings directly within Slack. With proper permissions, it also integrates with enterprise tools like Microsoft Teams and Google Drive, enabling users to manage workflows across multiple applications without switching platforms.

Salesforce and its enterprise software rivals are heavily investing in AI development to maintain and expand their market share. The revamped Slackbot, initially announced at Salesforce’s Dreamforce conference in October, is a key component of the company’s broader enterprise AI strategy.

Harris explained to TechCrunch that the next-generation Slackbot is fundamentally different from its predecessor. The company retained the name due to its strong brand recognition.

He noted that Slack rarely releases new features in isolation. Instead, updates are typically deployed to drive adoption, making this Slackbot release distinct from previous product iterations.

“It is an agent, it is a super agent that is your employee agent,” Harris stated. “It’s powered by generative AI, and it is something that is highly crafted and highly curated to be an agentic experience that employees and users love.”

Salesforce rigorously tests new products, including Slackbot, with its own employees for months prior to public release—a practice Harris jokingly refers to as “drinking their own champagne.” He highlighted that Slackbot has become the most widely adopted internal tool in the company’s history.

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“Just seeing the sheer active user count is a great sign we have hit on product-market-fit,” Harris said regarding internal adoption. “Adopted, not mandated, in corporations.”

This marks only the beginning of Slackbot’s evolution as an AI agent, Harris noted. Looking ahead, the company aims to expand Slackbot beyond text-based interactions within Slack. Future updates will include voice capabilities and the ability for Slackbot to browse the internet alongside users.

“I am very confident that investing in Slackbot is not only good for Slack, it will be incredibly good for the entire company,” Harris concluded.