Slack has announced a major expansion of its platform, enabling developers to create artificial intelligence (AI) tools and agentic workflows using its conversational data. The update introduces a real-time search (RTS) API, a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, and new developer tools such as Block Kit Tables. This development allows third-party developers and enterprises to build secure, context-aware AI applications that can access Slack’s chat data to automate tasks and enhance productivity.
Traditionally, AI assistants in workplace tools have faced limitations due to a lack of context, as chat histories, threads, and task-related information remained locked behind data silos. Slack said in a statement that it aims to address this challenge by allowing third-party AI developers to access relevant conversational data while maintaining strong security measures.
The RTS API provides real-time access to conversations, files, and channels within Slack. The company emphasised that AI agents will be able to interact with data but will not be permitted to download or store it externally. Businesses will also have control over access permissions to ensure data privacy.
Meanwhile, the MCP server, based on technology from Anthropic, will standardise how large language models (LLMs), AI applications, and agents discover contextual information and perform tasks on behalf of Slack users. This setup creates a unified communication layer between AI models and Slack’s systems, simplifying how developers define agent capabilities.
Several companies have already started integrating with Slack’s new system. Anthropic’s Claude can now search across channels, threads, and files to provide responses grounded in work-related discussions. Similarly, Google’s Agentspace links Slack data with its AI agents. Other adopters include Perplexity, Writer, Dropbox, Notion, Cognition Labs, Vercel, and Cursor, all of which are exploring ways to use Slack’s data for AI-driven automation and insights.
The new AI capabilities are currently available in closed beta, with full public release expected in early 2026. Additionally, Slack’s upcoming Work Objects feature, which allows embedding of third-party data directly into conversations, is set to launch broadly by late October.
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