Have you ever wondered how Slack tailors its AI recommendations and search results? It turns out that Slack has been using data from your chats to train its machine learning models without explicit permission. But don't worry, we'll break down what this means for you and how to opt out if you choose to do so.

What data is Slack using from your chats?

When it comes to training its machine learning models, Slack analyzes a range of customer data including messages, content, files, and usage information. This means that the platform is extracting insights from your day-to-day interactions on the platform to enhance its AI capabilities.

Understanding the implications of data usage

It's important to be aware of the implications of Slack using your chat data to train its machine learning models. By analyzing your messages and interactions, Slack can improve its recommendations, search results, and other AI-driven features. While this can enhance your user experience, it also raises privacy concerns.

How can you opt out of Slack's data training?

If you're uncomfortable with Slack using your chat data for its machine learning models, there is an option to opt out. However, the process requires action from your organization's Slack admin rather than individual users.

The opt-out process

To opt out of Slack's data training, you'll need to have your Org or Workspace Owners contact Slack's Customer Experience team at feedback@slack.com with your Workspace/Org URL and the subject line 'Slack Global model opt-out request'. Once the request is processed, Slack will exclude your data from being used to train its machine learning models.

Addressing concerns and inconsistencies in Slack's privacy policies

There have been concerns raised about inconsistencies in Slack's privacy policies regarding data usage for AI training. While one section states that Slack can't access the underlying content when developing AI/ML models, the machine learning model training policy seems to contradict this statement.

Clarifications from Slack

Despite the confusion, Slack has clarified that its platform-level machine-learning models for recommendations and search results do not access message content in DMs, private channels, or public channels. This ensures that sensitive information is protected during the data training process.