Most Slack bots get used once and forgotten. The successful ones solve real, recurring problems. Here's how to build AI Slack bots that become essential team tools.
Start with a specific pain point. "AI assistant" is too vague. "Bot that summarizes threads longer than 20 messages" is specific. "Bot that finds relevant past discussions when you're stuck on a problem" is specific. Specificity guides design decisions and makes success measurable.
Integration depth matters. A bot that only responds to @mentions feels bolted on. A bot that proactively summarizes important channels, automatically files decisions to documentation, or reminds about stale threads becomes essential infrastructure. Think workflow, not conversation.
Permission and privacy require care. AI bots that read all messages in all channels raise legitimate concerns. Be transparent about what the bot accesses. Offer opt-out mechanisms. Build trust through respect for team members' reasonable expectations about workspace privacy.
Jake Morrison
Contributing writer at MoltBotSupport, covering AI productivity, automation, and the future of work.