[NEW!] How to set up and leverage Box AI for Slack

The Box for Slack integration enables users to share Box content directly from the Slack message interface. It also gives greater visibility and granular control into how Slack accesses and manages Box content and metadata. With the recent release, users can generate answers based on the content within Box files shared in Slack. In this article, you’ll learn how end users can interact with Box AI for Slack and how to enable this feature from the Box Admin Console.

How can users interact with Box AI for Slack

Let’s start with an overview of several ways end users can interact with Box AI for Slack:

1. Posting a message starting from “@Box …” and referencing specific Box document links
2. Posting a @Box callout in a thread with multiple Box files already linked
3. Posting a @Box callout leveraging Box documents bookmarked in a channel
4. Using the Ask Box AI shortcut on an existing Slack message with linked Box files
5. Clicking the Ask Box AI button that shows up under a Box file shared in a Slack channel, as shown below

Box AI for Slack, user flow presenting an action of asking a question, and receiving Box AI document summary directly in Slack

The user can decide if they want to post the response to the Slack thread, delete it, or refine the original question. Once a response proposed by Box AI is posted to the Slack thread, it’s treated just like any other Slack post.

⚠️ If you decide to post Box AI’s response, be sure the channel audience is appropriate as there may be channel members who do not have access to the document(s) that Box AI queried in generating the response.

In case of private channels, you will need to invite the @Box app bot, allowing Box AI to generate responses in the channel. Users can also refine questions or Box AI’s response and then post it to the Slack thread.

For more details on Box AI for Slack, including guidelines for Box AI questions, tips, language support, and known limitations, visit our product documentation.

Prerequisites

If you haven’t used the Box for Slack integration yet, check out the product documentation here for detailed instructions:

Installing and Using the Box for Slack Integration

How to set up Box AI for Slack in the Admin Console

To enable Box AI for Slack for your enterprise, visit the Box Admin Console, go to Enterprise Settings, and navigate to the Box AI tab. Make sure you turn on Box AI for Official Box apps enabled setting for all users or selected users/groups.

Admin Console view, Enterprise Settings, Box AI user permissions view

Next, choose the Apps tab from the side panel. Scroll to Individual Applications Controls, search for Box for Slack, and click the Configure button on the right hand side.

Admin Console view, Apps & Integrations tab, Individual Applications Control section

A configuration modal with settings should appear. First, toggle on the Enable Box AI for Slack option. Next, decide if you’d like to display the Ask Box AI button under a shared file in Slack and also whether all users can remove the Box AI responses.

You can also restrict Box AI features to a specific Slack Workspace or Box AI features to a specific Slack Enterprise Grid Org ID by filling in the relevant inputs with allowlist(s). Once you’re done with all settings, click Save, sit back, and watch Box AI for Slack accelerate collaboration. 🚀

ℹ️ Box AI for Slack is only available to Box Enterprise Plus customers. For pricing information and inquiry usage rules, contact your Box account executive or visit our pricing page.

Related technical articles

Box API includes endpoints that support integration mapping between Slack channels and Box. Box CLI is also equipped with Slack-related automation templates, so check out the articles below to learn more!

Managing integration mapping between Slack Channels and Box Folders using the Box API

NEW! Box CLI automation template to manage Slack integration folder mappings

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