Slack has a ChatGPT app, too

Image: Salesforce

Slack is the latest app to integrate ChatGPT into its tech. OpenAI built a ChatGPT app using Slack's development tools. And it's now available in beta. The app can draft messages and summarize conversations and threads. If you have the app installed, you can click on a thread's menu button and select the "summarize thread" or "draft reply" option. The app can then create a summary or response that only you can see. You can then choose to share what's done.

According to Slack, you can use AI to deliver answers and insights on any project or topic chatbot-style. It suggests you can use the feature to look up best practices or research a potential customer. Slack noted that OpenAI won't use the data the ChatGPT app can access to train its language models.

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Oculus Quest to get Slack, Dropbox as Progressive Web Apps

Facebook Reality Labs

This isn't the first time 2D apps have surfaced on the Oculus Quest virtual reality platform. But Facebook is planning to bring more third-party 2D apps to the VR platform via the Progressive Web App (PWA) framework. The aim is to give more work tools for its VR users. The plan starts with Facebook, Instagram, collaboration app Smartsheet, and email client Spike. But then Facebook will add access to Dropbox, Slack, and more in the future.

The PWA-based framework allows developers to bring their apps to VR without creating fully custom versions. But there is still a need to go through Oculus' developer channels to get their apps on the platform. As The Verge noted, this update marks a larger-scale rollout of non-VR apps inside the headset.

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Slack revises new DM feature to prevent potential for harassment

Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash

Slack backtracks on a new direct message feature that someone could potentially abuse. The company will no longer let paid users email customized direct messages alongside an invite for someone to chat on the platform. The concern is that someone could use it to send abusive or nasty language to someone else through email notifications.

While you can block abusers' emails on your email client, these invites are forwarded by Slack using the feedback@slack.com address. That means you can't filter out the messages because you might miss important notifications.

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PSA: Update your Slack password if you use it on Android

This email from Slack is real, change your password if you receive it (Source: Android Police)

If you use Slack on your Android phone, you need to change your password now. The company sent out an email to some users requiring them to reset their passwords. According to the company, from December 21 to January 21, the Android version of the Slack app would store user credentials in plain text. The Verge points out that, in theory, this means any other app on your phone could access them.

Before changing your password, make sure to update to the latest version of Slack first. And if you received the email from Slack, click on the link to change your password. Otherwise, you'll need to be on your desktop or laptop to reset your password. Slack has instructions up on how to do that. If you use your password on other sites (which you really shouldn't do), make sure to change those, too.