Slack, the platform known for enhancing work management and productivity, is in the process of developing a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature. This upcoming tool, referred to as AI file summary, aims to provide concise summaries of documents uploaded to the platform, particularly for text-heavy content. Currently, the feature is still being developed and may not yet be accessible to users. Once available, it is expected to be restricted to those with a paid subscription to Slack, along with the AI add-on.
Slack Reportedly Working on AI File Summary Feature
A recent report from Android Authority has shed light on this under-development feature through an application package kit (APK) teardown. The findings indicate that evidence of the AI file summary feature can be found in the latest version of the Slack app for Android, specifically version 24-10-50-0. The analysis revealed several lines of code that outlined the feature’s capabilities and its potential limitations.
According to these code strings, the AI file summary feature could function as a distinct section within Slack, allowing users to upload files and receive quick summaries. These summaries are designed to be easily shareable and would be visible if the associated file is shared within another conversation. Notably, users will have the option to disable the summary feature when forwarding a file, according to one of the code lines.
However, the AI file summary capabilities will have certain restrictions. Reports indicate that the feature will not function for files that are excessively large or if they do not contain sufficient text for summarization. The specific thresholds for these limitations have not yet been disclosed. Additionally, it is expected that only certain file formats will be compatible with the feature, while password-protected files will not be eligible for summarization. Initial supported formats may include PDF, Word, and Text files.
Further investigation uncovered additional strings associated with the “AI file summary” tag, which revealed more details about the functionality and an anticipated feedback system. Users will reportedly have the ability to remove or delete an AI-generated summary from the file details if it does not meet their expectations, although this action will be irreversible.
Moreover, users will be able to provide feedback to Slack regarding the performance of the AI file summary feature. The feedback mechanisms may include options for users to indicate whether the information was accurate, whether the level of detail was appropriate, and whether the layout of the summary was user-friendly.
