Group chats and Bot-to-Bot messages
A group chat puts several of your Bots in one conversation. You can also add a teammate's published Team Bot, but not alongside Bots that run on your own computer. To start one, see Group chats. This page covers what to do once the group is running.
Where do Bots reply in a group chat?
In the group. When you write in a group chat, the Bots answer there. Type @ and a Bot's name to send the request to one Bot.
A Bot can also message you in its own chat, or message another Bot to hand off work. Those messages show up in the Bots' own chats, not in the group.
How do I keep a Bot's replies in the group chat?
Tell the Bot in the group. For example: "Reply here in the group. Don't message me privately about this."
To make it a lasting rule, ask each Bot to remember it. For example: "Remember: in group chats, reply in the group." See How do I change what a Bot does?
How do I stop Bots from messaging each other?
There is no switch for this. Bots message each other to hand off work, and they follow your instructions about it.
- Tell the Bots in the chat. For example: "Don't message other Bots. Ask me first."
- To keep the rule, ask each Bot to remember it.
- If a Bot keeps starting new work, open that Bot's chat and ask it to stop.
To quiet a helper Bot without deleting it, turn off its notifications or hide it. See How do I turn off notifications for helper Bots?
Every Bot reply counts toward your usage, including replies in a group and messages between Bots. Fewer Bots in a group means fewer replies.
Can a Bot message other Bots from Slack?
A Bot can hand work to other Bots only when it's acting for one person on that turn. Where you talk to it, and whether it's a personal Bot or a Team Bot, decide this:
| Bot | Where you ask | Can it message other Bots? | Acting for | Where the reply lands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Bot | The app, or your own Slack DM with it | Yes | You | The app chat, not Slack |
| Personal Bot | A Slack channel thread | No | Nobody, the thread is shared | The Bot says it can't do that |
| Team Bot | A Slack channel thread or Slack DM | Yes, to that person's own Bots | The teammate who mentioned it | The same Slack thread |
To hand work between Bots from a Slack channel, publish a Team Bot and add it to Slack. A Team Bot has its own Slack app and handle, and anyone in the channel can give it work. See How do I add a Team Bot to Slack?
How do I rename a group chat or change what it is for?
To rename it on desktop, right-click the group in the sidebar and choose Rename chat. You can also click the group's name at the top of the chat, then click the name in its details to edit it. On the phone, tap the group's name at the top of the chat, then tap Edit name.
To change what the group is for, tell the Bots in the group.
Do group chats have notifications?
Group chats don't have the per-Bot Notifications switch. See Attention states and notifications.
Can I voice chat in a group chat?
No. Voice chat works with one Bot at a time. See Voice chat with a Bot.