Summarise Slack Channels with AI
Difficulty: ★★★★☆ Challenging · Estimated time: ~45 minutes
You open Slack after a long weekend. There are 150 unread messages across 5 channels — project updates you missed, decisions that were made without you, and a thread that somehow turned into 47 replies. You could spend 20 minutes scrolling through it all — or you could just say:
"Read the recent messages in #general and give me a summary with the main topics, decisions, and action items"
And within seconds, you have a clear, structured catch-up. No scrolling, no skimming, no fear of missing something important.
That's what we're building. A workflow that reads your Slack messages and gives you a clear, useful summary — instantly.
Tutorial led by Chan Meng — Senior AI/ML Engineer, open-source contributor, and former ByteDance developer. Chan has built 30+ live applications and specialises in AI-powered solutions. She is also a panel speaker at this event and the developer behind this website.
What you will build
Link an AI tool to your Slack workspace so it can read messages
Pull messages from any channel you choose
AI reads the messages and gives you a clear, actionable summary
Two paths to choose from
This tutorial offers two ways to achieve the same result. Pick the one that suits you best.
~30 minutes · Recommended
Install Gemini CLI, create a Slack App, and use voice commands through Wispr Flow to summarise channels from your terminal. You will learn how AI tools connect to services via MCP — the same workflow used by professional tools like Claude Code.
~10 minutes · Quick setup
Download Claude Desktop, connect your Slack workspace with one click, and start asking for summaries. Quick results, but you will not build the CLI skills used in other tutorials. Claude Desktop is made by Anthropic — the same company behind Claude Code.
Which path should I choose? We recommend CLI + Voice — it builds the terminal skills you will use in every tutorial, and prepares you for professional tools like Claude Code. Choose Claude Desktop only if you are short on time and want quick results without terminal setup.
How it works
Recommended: Gemini CLI + Voice
Alternative: Claude Desktop
Both paths connect an AI assistant to your Slack workspace. The AI reads the messages from your chosen channel, analyses the conversation, and produces a structured summary — all in seconds.
You can either speak your prompts using Wispr Flow, or type/paste them into Gemini CLI. Both work exactly the same way. Wispr Flow is optional — it just makes the experience hands-free. Every prompt in this tutorial works whether you speak it or type it.
What you will learn
- Connect an AI tool to a real service (Slack) to access live data
- Write clear prompts that produce useful, structured summaries
- Customise summary formats for different needs (catch-up, meeting notes, highlights)
- Ask follow-up questions about conversations you haven't read
- Work with AI as a productivity tool for everyday tasks
- Use voice input to interact with AI hands-free (Path B)
No coding required. The AI handles everything — your job is to describe what kind of summary you want. If you can explain what you need to a colleague, you can do this.
Tools
Google's free AI assistant that runs in your terminal. Supports MCP connections to external services. Used in the recommended path.
Optional voice input tool — speak instead of type. Works in any application, including your terminal. Used in the recommended path.
Anthropic's free AI assistant app. Connect it to Slack and chat directly. Used in the alternative path only.
Lets your tools read messages from Slack channels. You will create a simple Slack App with read-only access.
Required to install Gemini CLI and the Slack MCP server. Only needed for Path B.
Cost
| Tool | Cost |
|---|---|
| Claude Desktop | Free |
| Gemini CLI | Free (1,000 requests/day) |
| Wispr Flow | Free trial (invite link for a free month of Pro) |
| Node.js | Free |
| Slack API | Free |
| Total | $0 |
Prerequisites
Windows or macOS. No special hardware needed.
Take your time — there's no rush. You can pause and come back anytime.
Any workspace where you are a member. This could be a work, community, or personal workspace.
Ready to get started? Head to Set up your tools to get everything ready.