Databricks Genie app for Slack

Preview

This feature is in Public Preview.

The Databricks Genie app for Slack brings Genie into Slack so users get answers to data questions without leaving Slack. Send a DM to the app, mention @Genie in a channel or group DM, and answers route through Genie (or through a specific Genie Space that the channel owner has pinned). The app uses the same model providers and trust and safety guarantees as Genie; see Hosting provider used when partner-powered AI features setting is enabled and disabled and Databricks AI assistive features trust and safety.

This page describes how to download, set up, and use the Databricks Genie app for Slack.

Click the button below to install the Databricks Genie app for Slack.

important

Databricks AI agents might generate inaccurate responses. Verify before acting on agent output.

Prerequisites

Before installing the Databricks Genie app for Slack, do the following:

• A workspace admin must enable the New chat experience in Genie preview in workspace previews. To turn on a preview, see Manage Databricks previews.
• An account admin must enable the Databricks Genie for Slack Public Preview in the account console.
• If your workspace uses an IP access list, add the outbound IPs of the Databricks control plane in the us-west-2 region. See Outbound IPs from Databricks control plane.

Install the Databricks Genie app for Slack

A Slack workspace administrator must install the Databricks Genie app for Slack using a direct URL:

1. Download the Databricks App for Slack by clicking the button:

   

2. You are redirected to the Slack authorization page. Review the requested permissions and click Allow to install the Databricks Genie app for Slack to your Slack workspace.

   note

   If your Slack workspace requires admin approval for third-party apps, submit the install request and ask a Slack admin to approve it.

Set up the Databricks Genie app for Slack

After the Databricks Genie app for Slack is installed by an admin on your Slack workspace, users have two options to set up the Databricks Genie app for Slack:

From a channel

1. Open a channel and send a @Genie message.
2. You are prompted to log in to your Databricks workspace.
3. After you log in, you can start using the Databricks Genie app for Slack.

From the App Home

1. In Slack, find and open the Databricks App under Apps in the left sidebar. Click the Home tab.
2. Click Connect to Databricks.
3. Log in to your Databricks account and select a workspace to connect to.
4. (Optional) Pin a specific Genie Space to a channel for consistent, use-case-specific answers. Select a specific Genie Space for all of your 1:1 conversations by selecting it under Genie Space scope and clicking Update Genie Space.

Use the Databricks Genie app for Slack

You can use the Databricks Genie app for Slack through direct messages, group DMs, or channel conversations on your Slack workspace.

Direct messages

Users in the Slack workspace can start a 1:1 conversation with the Databricks Genie app for Slack:

1. Find the Databricks Genie app for Slack in the Apps section and click the Chat tab.
2. Send your question. The Databricks Genie app for Slack routes the question to the most appropriate Genie Space and returns an answer with sources and suggested follow-up prompts.

Group messages

Users can add the Databricks Genie app for Slack to group DMs:

• New group messages: Add the Databricks Genie app for Slack as a user, then send @Genie to start the conversation.
• Existing group messages: Mention @Genie to ask a question.

Channel conversations

Channel members can use the Databricks Genie app for Slack in a Slack channel by mentioning @Genie. A channel owner can configure the Genie scope and message visibility for the channel.

1. In the channel, type @Genie.

2. If prompted, add the Databricks Genie app for Slack to the channel.

3. Configure the Databricks Genie app for Slack by selecting the following:

   • The connected Databricks workspace.
   • The message visibility (public or private).
   • The Genie scope: a specific Genie Space or all Genie Spaces.
   note

   If you are the channel owner, you can apply this configuration for yourself or for the entire channel.

To change the configuration later, run /databricks-genie config in the channel to reopen the configuration window.

After configuration, channel members can mention @Genie in the channel to ask questions.

Configuration levels and overrides

Run /databricks-genie config in a channel to open the configuration window. The following settings are configurable:

• Workspace Selection: The Databricks workspace the Databricks Genie app for Slack connects to for answering questions.
• Message visibility: Whether @Genie responses in channels are visible to all channel members or only to the user who asked. By default, responses are public.
• Genie Space scope: A specific Genie Space or all Genie Spaces. Pin a single space for consistent, use-case-specific answers.

Message visibility settings can be set at three levels. Higher levels override lower levels:

Level	How to set it	Applies to	Precedence
Workspace	Databricks workspace admin configures from workspace security settings using Allowed collaboration platforms and Allow public messages in collaboration platforms fields. Changes might take up to an hour to take effect.	All channels in the Slack workspace	Highest — overrides channel and personal configurations
Channel	Channel owner sends /databricks-genie config in the channel and selects Save as channel-wide setting	All members in that channel	Overrides personal configurations
Personal	Individual user sends /databricks-genie config in the channel	That user's own @Genie mentions in the channel	Used when no channel-wide configuration is set

Limitations

• You cannot specify which compute (SQL warehouse) the Databricks Genie app for Slack uses. Databricks automatically selects a SQL warehouse that the user is authorized to access.
• The following features are not supported:
  • Visualizing charts
  • Sending Databricks notifications to Slack
  • Triggering actions in Databricks from Slack
  • Connecting to GitHub and Glean as data sources through chat

Frequently asked questions

My private (ephemeral) messages in a channel disappeared. What happened?

A Slack ephemeral message disappears from the user's view in any of the following situations:

• The user reloads or refreshes the Slack client.
• The user switches platforms, for example, from desktop to mobile.
• The user logs out, logs back in, or the session expires.
• The Slack app process closes and reopens.

Additional resources

• Use the Genie interface
• Genie chat
• Use the Genie interface
• Databricks help center