The AI Download Slack’s CMO on AI Agents and the Future of Work
What if your next teammate was AI?
Slack’s CMO Ryan Gavin joins Shira Lazar to break down how digital agents like AgentForce are already changing how we work. From boosting productivity to protecting privacy, this episode explores how AI is moving from hype to hands-on—and why that matters now more than ever.
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On this episode of The AI Download, host Shira Lazar sits down with Ryan Gavin, Chief Marketing Officer at Slack, to explore how AI agents and Salesforce’s Agent Force are transforming the future of work. From preventing hallucinations with in-app citations to empowering small businesses with digital teammates, they dive into the bold vision of upgrading human capabilities with “invisible AI” —so you spend less time on busy work and more on orchestrating value.
In this episode, we cover:
- AI Hallucinations & Trust: How Slack surfaces citations on every AI answer to prevent fake facts and keep teams honest.
- EU’s AI Code of Practice: Why transparency and data-disclosure rules matter—and how Slack’s privacy-first approach sets a new standard.
- Capability Upgrades for All: Why AI isn’t replacing jobs but turbocharging human talent, especially in small businesses like EasyCater.
- AgentForce Inside Slack: Bringing generative agents into your conversations, tapping into unstructured “company memory” for deeper context.
- Permissions & Privacy: How agents inherit Slack channel permissions—so private messages stay private unless you choose to share.
- From Doers to Orchestrators: The coming shift toward orchestrating AI-driven workflows—and why curiosity is your greatest skill.
- Real-World Results: A 233% surge in daily AI use at Slack and an 81% boost in employee satisfaction—what that means for your team.
🎙 Guest:
Ryan Gavin
Chief Marketing Officer, Slack
Follow him: @RyanGavinCMO
LinkedIN : https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-gavin-seattle/
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Credits
This episode of The AI Download was hosted, created, and executive produced by Shira Lazar. Executive Producer Michele Musso, with video and audio editing by the Musso Media team. Creative Director Nadia Giosia with Mint Labs. Music by PALA, Catalina Coastline (licensed under Boss Soundstripe Productions by BMI). © 2025 Shira Lazar