Latest news with #DeniseDresser
Fast Company
3 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
Slack expands AI features with enterprise search, translation, and smart summaries
A new set of AI tools is coming to Slack, designed to help users quickly find and utilize information from their chats—and even from data stored in connected business apps. 'It serves as the hub, or your work operating system, to be able to get work done, to make things more productive,' says Slack CEO Denise Dresser. On July 17, Slack announced the general availability of an enterprise search feature. Users on Enterprise+ plans will now be able to search information from integrated apps like Google Drive, Box, Microsoft Teams, and corporate parent Salesforce's systems directly from within the Slack search box. 'Slack is a very natural place to look for things and to initiate that search, because a lot of what prompts people to go look for something is something that happens in Slack—either a notification or a question from somebody in a message, or something you see in a channel that you don't quite understand,' says Rob Seaman, Slack's chief product officer. Even within those conversations, users will soon be able to ask AI for help understanding specific messages, such as defining corporate terminology and acronyms or putting messages into the context of a broader discussion. AI will also highlight action items for individual users, helping those with limited time to focus on top priorities. A language translation feature has also entered general availability for Business+ and higher-tier plans, enabling multilingual teams to ask AI to translate messages into their preferred languages. Users with Pro and higher-level plans can use AI to generate meeting notes from Slack Huddle conversations. Soon, Slack's AI will even be able to create user profiles, offering insights into team members' roles and recent contributions—especially useful in large organizations. 'We do a lot here to make sure it feels right and doesn't feel creepy,' Seaman says. 'We have it be positive. We have it only access what's available publicly.' Slack Canvas, the platform's tool for creating shared documents and collaborative notebooks, will also benefit from AI. The assistant will leverage Slack's conversational data to help with tasks like drafting onboarding documents or turning brainstorming sessions into project briefs. These updates are part of Slack's broader effort to help users cut through the information overload of modern office life, and to solidify the company's position as the go-to hub for finding information and AI-powered assistance. Dresser says Slack has a head start, given how many people already know and enjoy using it to connect and collaborate. 'The more that people love being there, and they can find what they need to do their job, the more they're going to want to stay in Slack,' Dresser says. For many teams, Slack already acts as a central repository of vital information, containing records of key conversations and company updates—even before integrating external data sources. As Dresser points out, the Slack name was originally said to stand for 'searchable log of all conversation and knowledge,' and AI may increasingly help users take action based on that information, or quickly grasp what's already been discussed. 'You search for information, you're able to very quickly then take action right in the flow of work on that information so you don't have to go somewhere else,' Dresser says. Slack's business customers also trust its security and privacy models. Many already integrate Slack with other apps, including to enable communication with AI bots and agents. Even as new AI features roll out, Slack emphasizes that it won't use customer data to train new AI models, and that its systems will only access information a user already has permission to see. Slack, which began introducing AI features about 18 months ago, also ensures that AI responses include citations, such as links to relevant chats. This transparency could give Slack an edge over other AI tools that lack easy access to internal knowledge. As Dresser says, 'We really do think between being trained on your Slack corpus and seeing the citations, it's been a huge benefit.'
Al Bawaba
07-07-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
New Slack Research: Daily AI Usage Among Workers Surges 233%
Slack's latest Workforce Index revealed a significant increase in AI adoption and excitement among desk workers, with daily AI usage higher by an astounding 233% in just six months. The survey of 5,000 global desk workers also found that AI has emerged as a clear competitive advantage, as workers who use AI daily prove to be 64% more productive and 81% more satisfied with their job than colleagues not using Index reveals that workers are using AI to level up, going beyond just automating tasks. 96% of workers have used AI to perform tasks they previously didn't have the skills to do themselves, and today's workers are 154% more likely to turn to AI agents to help them perform tasks better and more creatively, rather than to just simply automate their work. 'The surge in AI adoption is fundamentally reshaping the workplace,' said Denise Dresser, CEO of Slack. 'As workers embrace AI with growing trust and confidence, businesses gain a clear opportunity to unlock greater productivity and innovation, while workers grow more confident and fulfilled.'Why it matters: While workers have been slower to adopt AI than executives, adoption has surged over the past few months, with 60% of desk workers now using AI and 40% using AI agents. And Slack's latest Index shows that trust and confidence in AI grows with use; workers who use AI agents daily are twice as likely to trust them. With workers all-in on AI, businesses can deliver on their AI vision and unlock the full potential of digital labor within their organizations. Salesforce perspective: "When it comes to workers and AI, the data shows us that seeing is believing,' says Lucas Puente, VP of Research. 'As workers actually use and experiment with AI agents, their trust and enthusiasm in this technology grows – and we see them leveraging agents to unlock new skills and opportunities in their everyday work.' Middle East perspective: 'What we see amongst organizations in the Middle East reflects the global research in Slack's Workforce Index, with strong adoption of AI agents among workers, and particularly millennials,' said Mohammed Alkhotani, SVP and GM, Salesforce Middle East. 'This is a positive development and is helping to enhance workers' productivity and creativity. It is important for organizations to nurture this enthusiasm for AI and to ensure they have the right solutions and policies in place to ensure sustainable, long-term success with AI.' By the numbers:● AI adoption, trust and excitement are soaring. Since November 2024: ○ AI adoption among workers has risen 50%, with 60% of workers now using AI○ Daily AI usage among workers is 233% higher○ 40% of workers have worked with an agent – and 23% have offloaded tasks to agents complete on their behalf ○ Daily users of AI agents are more than 2x more likely to express high trust in AI across areas like data protection, accuracy, and decision-making● Millennials are emerging as the surprise AI power user at work.○ 30% of Millennials say they thoroughly understand AI agents – edging out even Gen Z (22%)○ 68% of Millennials use AI for strategic work like drafting, summarizing, and ideating○ 43% of executives report daily AI use, compared to 35% of senior managers and 23% of middle managers who use AI every day● AI is making workers more productive and enabling them to grow into more creative, strategic work.○ Compared to non-users, daily AI users are more likely to report 'very good': ■ Productivity (64%)■ Focus (58%) ■ Job satisfaction (81%) ○ The top three ways AI / AI agents have increased worker productivity are: ■ 1) Eliminating need for extensive research■ 2) Assisting with writing/communication■ 3) Helping brainstorm to overcome creative blocks○ 96% of AI users have used AI to perform tasks they didn't have the skills to do themselves.■ 72% want AI agents to augment or automate brainstorming ■ 80% want AI agents to assist with research for deal support ■ 82% want AI agents to create presentations ● AI enhances – not replaces – connection among workers. ○ Daily AI users are 246% more likely to feel more connected to colleagues and report a 62% higher sense of belonging at work.○ 1 in 3 (34%) Gen Z say AI has made them feel more connected at work○ 50% of Gen Z workers – the digital native generation – say AI hasn't changed how often they ask questions or collaborate with teammates. ■ In fact, 29% say it's actually increased their Employee POV:● 'Agentforce helps me work smarter, not just faster. I use it to think more strategically, communicate more clearly, and approach every customer interaction with greater confidence. It's changing how I work — and how I deliver for customers.' — Haley Gault, Senior Account Executive, deeper:● Learn more about how HR leaders are preparing their workforce for digital labor● Check out how far workers have come on AI since the last Workforce Index● Learn more about how workers are using Agentforce in Slack ● Find more AI research in the Salesforce stat library © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba ( Signal PressWire is the world's largest independent Middle East PR distribution service.
