Want to talk to your AI assistant right where you work? Here's a step-by-step guide to connecting Open Assistant to Slack — from app creation to your first message.

Why Slack?

If you're like most teams, Slack is where the action happens. It's where you brainstorm, share files, and keep the conversation going. So why not have your AI assistant right there too?

With Open Assistant's Slack integration, you can send messages, share files, and get things done — all without leaving your workspace. No browser tab required. No context switching. Just you and your assistant, one message away.

Let's set it up.

Prerequisites

Before we start, make sure you have:

  • A Slack workspace where you can create apps
  • An Open Assistant instance already running (self-hosted or cloud)
  • About 10 minutes of your time

Ready? Let's go.

Step 1: Create a Slack App

Head over to api.slack.com/apps and click Create New App, then From scratch.

Give it a name — something like "Open Assistant" or "Open Assistant Blogger" — and pick your workspace. Hit Create App.

You'll land on your app's dashboard. This is home base for everything that follows.

Step 2: Add Bot Token Scopes

Your app needs permissions to do things in Slack — read messages, write replies, access files, and so on.

Navigate to OAuth & Permissions in the left sidebar, then scroll down to Bot Token Scopes. Add the following scopes one by one:

  • chat:write — Send messages as the bot
  • channels:read — See public channels
  • channels:history — Read messages in public channels
  • groups:read — See private channels
  • groups:history — Read messages in private channels
  • im:history — Read direct messages
  • im:read — See direct message conversations
  • users:read — Look up user profiles
  • files:read — Access shared files (images, PDFs, etc.)

Good to know: You can always refer back to this list when configuring your Slack app.

Step 3: Enable Socket Mode

Socket Mode lets your app communicate with Slack via WebSocket — no need to expose a public URL.

  1. In the left sidebar, click Socket Mode and enable it
  2. Give your connection a name (e.g., "Open Assistant Blogger")
  3. Click Generate — you'll get an App-Level Token that starts with xapp-

Important: Copy this token and save it somewhere safe. You'll need it in Step 6.

Step 4: Subscribe to Bot Events

Now we need to tell Slack which events should trigger your app.

  1. In the left sidebar, go to Event Subscriptions and enable it
  2. Under Subscribe to bot events, add:
  3. message.im — direct messages
  4. message.channels — messages in public channels
  5. message.groups — messages in private channels
  6. Click Save Changes

This ensures your assistant gets notified whenever someone sends a message it should respond to.

Step 5: Install the App to Your Workspace

Head back to OAuth & Permissions and click Install to Workspace.

After you authorize the app, you'll get a Bot User OAuth Token — this one starts with xoxb-.

Important: Copy this token too. You'll need it shortly.

While you're here, also grab the Signing Secret from Basic Information in the left sidebar. This is used to verify that requests actually come from Slack.

Step 6: Configure Open Assistant

Now switch over to your Open Assistant instance.

  1. Go to Settings → Integrations → Slack
  2. Fill in the following fields:
Field Value
Bot Token Your xoxb- token from Step 5
App Level Token Your xapp- token from Step 3
Signing Secret From Basic Information in Slack
Default Channel The channel ID where your assistant should live
Allowed User IDs Your Slack member ID (so only you can talk to the bot)

How to get your Channel ID: Right-click on the channel name in Slack, then Copy Link — the ID is the part after /C. Or open channel details and copy it directly.

How to get your User ID: Click your profile picture, then Profile, then the three dots menu, then Copy Member ID.

Click Save Settings.

Step 7: Make the Bot Available in Slack

Almost there! One last thing in the Slack app settings:

  1. Go to your app, then App Home in the left sidebar
  2. Set the bot to be always online
  3. Under the Messages tab, enable "Allow users to send slash commands and messages from the messages tab"

This ensures your assistant is reachable and responsive at all times.

Step 8: Test the Connection

Back in Open Assistant, click Test Connection. If everything is set up correctly, you'll see a success message.

Then, restart your assistant to make sure the WebSocket connection is live. Open Slack, find your assistant, and send a message:

Hello!

If you get a reply, you're all set. 🎉 Your Open Assistant is now living inside Slack, ready to help you right where you work.

Troubleshooting

  • Bot doesn't respond? Double-check that Socket Mode is enabled and that you've added all three bot events.
  • "Not authorized" error? Make sure your User ID is in the Allowed User IDs field.
  • Messages not reaching the bot? Verify the bot is set to "always online" in App Home settings.

What's Next?

Now that Slack is connected, you can:

  • Send files — share PDFs, images, or documents and your assistant can process them
  • Chat from anywhere — mobile, desktop, or browser
  • Automate workflows — use your assistant for reminders, research, content creation, and more, all from Slack

This is just one of the many integrations Open Assistant supports. Check out the docs for WhatsApp, Email, Calendar, and more.