[AINews] Why OpenAI Should Build Slack
Hacker News
February 14, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
OpenAI should consider building its own version of Slack as a strategic move to leverage its AI capabilities and address the growing needs of the tech community. The article suggests that while Slack has struggled with developer dissatisfaction, high API costs, and user complaints about features and outages, OpenAI is uniquely positioned to create a better alternative. This would not only solidify their position in enterprise solutions but also align with their focus on coding and multi-agent collaboration.
Slack's current challenges include issues like channel fatigue, inadequate notification tools, and difficulties in integrating AI features effectively. Despite these problems, every organization in tech continues to rely on Slack, indicating a clear demand for improved communication platforms. OpenAI’s entry into this space could redefine the future of work by offering a more seamless, AI-driven experience that integrates with their existing tools like ChatGPT and Codex.
The article highlights that OpenAI has the opportunity to lead in creating a unified platform that combines chat, coding, and collaboration, unlike Anthropic’s cohesive approach. By owning its own Slack-like platform, OpenAI could foster a customer organization’s social and work graph, making it harder for competitors to replace. This would also allow for deeper integration of AI agents, enabling swarms of humans and agents to collaborate effectively in real-time.
Ultimately, building an OpenAI version of Slack is not just about replicating an existing tool but revolutionizing how teams communicate and work together. This move could establish OpenAI as a leader in AI-driven collaboration, setting a new standard for productivity and innovation in the tech industry.
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Originally published on Hacker News on 2/14/2026