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Slack Integration Overview

xpander.ai enables you to deploy your AI agents directly to Slack, creating a seamless experience for your team. This integration brings the power of your AI agents into your team’s everyday communication platform, allowing them to access intelligent assistance without switching contexts.

Slack integration is fully managed by xpander.ai, handling all the complexities of authentication, state management, and conversation threading.

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Key Features

The Slack integration provides a rich set of capabilities that make your AI agents feel like native Slack members:

Easy Setup and Configuration: Connect your AI agent to Slack in minutes with our guided configuration process. No need to manage complex API workflows or write custom code.

Native Messaging Experience: Your agent behaves like a regular Slack user, participating in direct messages and channel conversations. Users can interact with it using familiar Slack patterns.

Intelligent Thread Management: The integration maintains context across conversation threads, enabling coherent multi-turn dialogues that feel natural and responsive.

Secure Workspace Integration: Access relevant workspace content with appropriate permissions. The integration respects Slack’s security model while ensuring functionality.

Enterprise-Grade Security: Control access with xpander.ai authentication and Slack permissions, supporting enterprise security requirements for all deployments.

To begin connecting your agent to Slack, navigate to your agent settings: Agents → Select your agent → Chat tab → Chatbots option → Connect button.

Slack Integration Setup

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Getting Started

1

Create your agent

First, create and configure your agent through the xpander.ai platform. Your agent should be fully defined with the necessary tools and capabilities before connecting it to Slack.

2

Configure Slack Integration

In the agent configuration panel, navigate to the “Human Interfaces” tab and select “Chatbots”. This section manages all messaging platform integrations for your agent.

Click on the Slack option to begin the configuration process.

3

Generate Configuration Token

You’ll need a configuration token to securely connect your agent to Slack:

  1. Go to your workspace’s configuration page
  2. Click “Generate Token” under “Your App Configuration Tokens”
  3. Copy the Access Token that appears

Configuration tokens are unique to your user and workspace, not to a specific app. This means you can manage multiple agents with a single token.

For more information on configuration tokens, see the Slack API documentation.

4

Configure Slack Bot

In the Slack configuration dialog:

  1. Paste your configuration token (typically starts with xoxb-)
  2. Click “Create” to initiate the connection

This action will request the necessary permissions to integrate your agent with Slack.

Slack Configuration Dialog

5

Approve Permissions

Slack will present a permission request dialog. Review what the bot will be able to access:

  • Content and information about channels and conversations
  • Content and information about your workspace
  • Permission to perform actions in channels and conversations

These permissions give your agent access to information in your Slack workspace. Only approve if you trust the agent and understand its capabilities.

Click “Allow” to grant these permissions and complete the integration.

Slack Permission Request

6

Confirm Connection

After approval, the bot will send you a direct message in Slack to confirm the connection. This message indicates that your agent is now active and ready to interact with users.

Confirmation Message

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Permission Management

When connecting your AI agent to Slack, you’ll need to understand the permissions model. Your agent operates within Slack’s security framework, requiring specific permissions to function effectively.

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Read Access

Your agent receives permission to access channels, messages, and workspace information. This allows it to understand context and respond appropriately to queries based on available information.

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Write Access

The integration grants your agent the ability to send messages, both in direct conversations and in channels. This enables it to respond to queries and provide information proactively when appropriate.

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Interaction Permissions

Your agent can respond to mentions and direct messages, allowing users to engage with it naturally within their workflow. These permissions follow Slack’s standard security model.

You can review all permissions before approval and modify them later through Slack’s app management interface if your needs change.

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Conversation Capabilities

Once connected to Slack, your agent becomes an active participant in your workspace’s communication ecosystem. The integration supports natural, contextual conversations that respect Slack’s interaction patterns.

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Responsive Interactions

Your agent responds to direct messages from users, creating private one-on-one conversations. It can also reply when mentioned in channels, allowing it to participate in team discussions when invited.

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Contextual Understanding

The integration maintains context across conversation threads, enabling your agent to follow complex discussions. This context awareness creates more natural interactions that feel like talking to a knowledgeable team member.

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Tool Execution

Your agent can execute actions based on its configured tools, providing valuable functionality directly within Slack. These capabilities are defined by your agent’s configuration in the xpander.ai platform.

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Configuration Options

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Example: LinkedIn AI Agent

The screenshots demonstrate a LinkedIn AI Agent connected to Slack. This example illustrates how a specialized agent can be integrated seamlessly into your communication workflow:

  1. The agent requests specific permissions to access the xpander.ai Slack workspace
  2. It receives permissions to view conversation content and workspace information
  3. After approval, it can perform actions within the Slack environment
  4. Users interact with it through direct messages, starting with suggested conversation starters
  5. The agent responds conversationally, maintaining context throughout the interaction

This implementation shows how domain-specific AI capabilities can be brought directly into your team’s daily workflow while maintaining appropriate security boundaries and access controls.

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Troubleshooting

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Advanced Configuration

For teams requiring deeper customization, xpander.ai provides access to advanced Slack integration capabilities. These options allow you to create truly tailored experiences while leveraging the platform’s robust agent framework.

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Custom Slack Commands

Create slash commands that trigger specific agent functions, allowing users to invoke capabilities with simple, memorable commands like /analyze-data or /schedule-meeting.

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Interactive Components

Implement buttons, menus, and other interactive elements in your agent’s messages, creating rich interfaces that simplify complex interactions and improve user experience.

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Event Subscriptions

Configure your agent to respond to specific Slack events beyond direct mentions, such as channel joins, emoji reactions, or file uploads, creating context-aware automations.

Advanced configurations require deeper familiarity with both xpander.ai and Slack’s developer tools. Contact our support team for guidance on implementing these capabilities.