> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://herwaka.shesharp.org.nz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Summarise Slack Channels with AI

> Catch up on any Slack channel in seconds — use AI to fetch and summarise messages, so you never miss what matters. No coding required.

<Tip>
  **Difficulty: ★★★★☆ Challenging** · Estimated time: \~45 minutes
</Tip>

You open Slack after a long weekend. There are 150 unread messages across 5 channels — project updates you missed, decisions that were made without you, and a thread that somehow turned into 47 replies. You could spend 20 minutes scrolling through it all — or you could just say:

> "Read the recent messages in #general and give me a summary with the main topics, decisions, and action items"

And within seconds, you have a clear, structured catch-up. No scrolling, no skimming, no fear of missing something important.

**That's what we're building.** A workflow that reads your Slack messages and gives you a clear, useful summary — instantly.

<Info>
  **Tutorial led by [Chan Meng](https://chanmeng.org/)** — Senior AI/ML Engineer, open-source contributor, and former ByteDance developer. Chan has built 30+ live applications and specialises in AI-powered solutions. She is also a panel speaker at this event and the developer behind this website.
</Info>

## What you will build

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Connect" icon="plug">
    Link an AI tool to your Slack workspace so it can read messages
  </Card>

  <Card title="Fetch" icon="download">
    Pull messages from any channel you choose
  </Card>

  <Card title="Summarise" icon="sparkles">
    AI reads the messages and gives you a clear, actionable summary
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Two paths to choose from

This tutorial offers two ways to achieve the same result. Pick the one that suits you best.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Recommended: CLI + Voice" icon="terminal">
    **\~30 minutes** · Recommended

    Install Gemini CLI, create a Slack App, and use voice commands through Wispr Flow to summarise channels from your terminal. You will learn how AI tools connect to services via MCP — the same workflow used by professional tools like Claude Code.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Alternative: Claude Desktop" icon="message-bot">
    **\~10 minutes** · Quick setup

    Download Claude Desktop, connect your Slack workspace with one click, and start asking for summaries. Quick results, but you will not build the CLI skills used in other tutorials. Claude Desktop is made by Anthropic — the same company behind Claude Code.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Tip>
  **Which path should I choose?** We recommend **CLI + Voice** — it builds the terminal skills you will use in every tutorial, and prepares you for professional tools like Claude Code. Choose Claude Desktop only if you are short on time and want quick results without terminal setup.
</Tip>

## How it works

**Recommended: Gemini CLI + Voice**

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart LR
    A["You speak"] --> B["Wispr Flow\nconverts to text"]
    B --> C["Gemini CLI\nreads Slack"]
    C --> D["You get\na summary"]
```

**Alternative: Claude Desktop**

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart LR
    A["You connect\nSlack to Claude"] -->|"one click"| B["Claude reads\nyour messages"]
    B -->|"summarises"| C["You get\na summary"]
```

Both paths connect an AI assistant to your Slack workspace. The AI reads the messages from your chosen channel, analyses the conversation, and produces a structured summary — all in seconds.

<Tip>
  **You can either speak your prompts using Wispr Flow, or type/paste them into Gemini CLI. Both work exactly the same way.** Wispr Flow is optional — it just makes the experience hands-free. Every prompt in this tutorial works whether you speak it or type it.
</Tip>

## What you will learn

* Connect an AI tool to a real service (Slack) to access live data
* Write clear prompts that produce useful, structured summaries
* Customise summary formats for different needs (catch-up, meeting notes, highlights)
* Ask follow-up questions about conversations you haven't read
* Work with AI as a productivity tool for everyday tasks
* Use voice input to interact with AI hands-free (Path B)

<Note>
  **No coding required.** The AI handles everything — your job is to describe what kind of summary you want. If you can explain what you need to a colleague, you can do this.
</Note>

## Tools

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Gemini CLI" icon="terminal">
    Google's free AI assistant that runs in your terminal. Supports MCP connections to external services. Used in the recommended path.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Wispr Flow" icon="microphone">
    Optional voice input tool — speak instead of type. Works in any application, including your terminal. Used in the recommended path.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Claude Desktop" icon="message-bot">
    Anthropic's free AI assistant app. Connect it to Slack and chat directly. Used in the alternative path only.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Slack API" icon="slack">
    Lets your tools read messages from Slack channels. You will create a simple Slack App with read-only access.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Node.js" icon="node-js">
    Required to install Gemini CLI and the Slack MCP server. Only needed for Path B.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Cost

| Tool           | Cost                                                                               |
| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Claude Desktop | Free                                                                               |
| Gemini CLI     | Free (1,000 requests/day)                                                          |
| Wispr Flow     | Free trial ([invite link for a free month of Pro](https://wisprflow.ai/r?CHAN115)) |
| Node.js        | Free                                                                               |
| Slack API      | Free                                                                               |
| **Total**      | **\$0**                                                                            |

## Prerequisites

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="A laptop with internet" icon="laptop">
    Windows or macOS. No special hardware needed.
  </Card>

  <Card title="About 45 minutes" icon="clock">
    Take your time — there's no rush. You can pause and come back anytime.
  </Card>

  <Card title="A Slack workspace" icon="slack">
    Any workspace where you are a member. This could be a work, community, or personal workspace.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Note>
  Ready to get started? Head to [Set up your tools](/tutorial/slack-summary/setup) to get everything ready.
</Note>