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Slack rolls out AI capabilities for all paid users across the globe
Tue, 23rd Apr 2024

Slack has announced the broad rollout of its native artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to its paid customers. The service expansion includes support for Japanese and Spanish languages, as well as a new "Recap" feature that provides users with a personalised daily digest of highlights from selected channels.

Accessible to businesses of all sizes, the generative AI capabilities are now an integral aspect of Slack's self-service plans. The AI system, which uses a company's conversational data to help users work faster and smarter, allows users to better surface and prioritise information.

The Recap summarises key developments in a user's chosen channels, delivering a digest of missed information the following day. After a user reads their recap, Slack AI estimates the amount of time saved with the feature. According to internal analysis, customers are already saving an average of 97 minutes per week using Slack AI to find answers, distil knowledge, and spark ideas.

Notably, Slack's integration with Salesforce's Einstein Copilot hints at the platform's potential for future breakthroughs. Slated as one of many exciting upcoming features, the Einstein Copilot offers conversational AI assistant services for Salesforce's CRM. By leveraging this integration, users will be able to draw on AI-powered CRM insights directly within Slack, enabling them to converse with Salesforce datasets as if they were fellow team members.

The implementation of AI technology in the business sector remains a high-priority area with robust potential to achieve optimal productivity rates. Yet, while 94% of executives argue integrating AI into their organisations is an immediate imperative, only a quarter of desk workers report having tried AI tools at work, as per research from Slack's Workforce Lab.

Wayfair and Beyond Better Foods are two high-profile companies already making the most of Slack's AI attributes. Wayfair uses Slack AI to efficiently process its collected data, while Beyond Better Foods has integrated the AI system into its logistical operations.

Asad Rahman, Director of Employee Tech at Wayfair, reveals how Slack AI has transformed the company's work dynamics. He states, "With Slack AI’s compelling features, we're empowered to find information quickly so people can spend less time catching up and more time delivering."

Andy Kung, VP of Operations at Beyond Better Foods, touches upon the practical advantages of using Slack AI, saying, "The enhanced search capabilities of Slack AI have been really helpful to fast-track answers, especially when it comes to logistics."

Following its successful introduction, Slack AI will further enhance its search and summarisation functions by branching into new data sources, including files, Slack apps, canvases, and clips, to amplify the context of information offered by Slack AI. Furthermore, the AI will soon summarise key takeaways and action items from Slack's huddles, turning live discussions into concrete next steps.

Slack AI is now available as a paid add-on for all paid Slack plans and costs USD $10 per user per month for Slack Pro and Business+ plans. Further language support updates are in the pipeline.