Using Ashby Agents in Slack
This guide covers using the Ashby Assistant and custom agents as part of Ashby's integration with Slack. For more on enabling the Ashby Assistant and configuring custom agents, check out Ashby AgentsAshby Agents.
Before starting conversations with the Ashby Assistant or any custom agents in Slack, you must have both the Slack integration configured and the Ashby Assistant enabled.
Reinstalling the Slack integration
If you already have the Slack integration configured but would like to access agent capabilities in Slack, you need to reinstall the Ashby app. Only Organization Admins can complete the steps below.
If you have not yet configured the Slack integration, check out SlackSlack.
During the time between deactivating and reactivating the integration, the Slack integration stops working completely. This means notifications and reminders do not go out. We recommend taking the steps below during quieter hours to minimize disruption.
To reinstall the Slack integration:
- Navigate to Integrations > Integrations and click on the Slack integration tile.
- Click Deactivate.
- Click Add to Slack within the integration tile and grant the permissions when prompted by Slack to reactivate the integration.
Messaging Ashby Agents via Slack
You can start a conversation with the Ashby Assistant or your custom agents directly in Slack. To do this:
- In Slack, click on the Ashby app in the Apps section of the left-hand Channels bar.
- Type a question or request in the Message Ashby field. To use a custom agent for your request, name the agent as part of your request (for example, "Using the Debrief Agent, let me know how many debriefs I have coming up"). The Ashby Assistant and custom agents can read and pull information to answer questions on the following areas of Ashby:
- Candidates
- Interview plans
- Jobs and job pipelines
- Applications
- Interviews
- Feedback forms
- Interview transcripts
- Upcoming interviews
- Openings
The Ashby Assistant and custom agents can take the following actions on your behalf. You have final confirmation before any action is taken:
- Create candidates
- Add candidate notes
- Change interview stages, including archiving job considerations with an archive reason.
- Consider candidates for jobs
- Draft and send emails to candidates
- Fill forms
All actions and data access execute on your behalf with the same permissions you have in Ashby. You can only access candidate information your permission level in Ashby grants you, and the actions you can take may also be limited by your permission level.
For more on access roles and the access they provide, check out User PermissionsUser Permissions.
Ashby Agents generate responses, summaries, and recommendations based on the information available to them. AI-generated content may be inaccurate and should be reviewed before use.
- The assistant creates a thread using your original message and responds accordingly.
- When the assistant is about to take an action on your request (send an email, change a stage, or add a note), it renders a preview in Slack's own format with buttons to confirm or reject the action.
- If you reject the action, the assistant asks for your amendments or further clarification.
- To continue the conversation with full context retained, respond to the assistant within the same thread. To submit a new request without the context of the previous conversation, send a new separate Slack message.
Reviewing conversations with Ashby Agents
All conversations with Ashby Agents — including those via the Ashby app in Slack — are visible in your AI chat history. Access your AI chat history by clicking Ashby AI on the top navigation bar in your Ashby account.
Conversations with agents in Slack are marked with a Slack icon in the chat list on the left-hand side of the page.
FAQs
Can I reply to a scheduled agent message in Slack?
No, if you have an agent configured with a Schedule trigger, they will be able to send messages with the output in Slack but you will not be able to reply to the output to ask for additional information within Slack. Click the Continue in Ashby link at the end of the message to be taken to the conversation in Ashby Assistant.
