Overview

This guide shows you how to connect Google Gemini to Slack using OpenClaw. You'll configure the messaging channel, set up AI provider authentication, and deploy your assistant.

Slack Capabilities

Direct messages
Group chats
Media support
Reactions
Thread support
Native commands

Google Gemini Features

1M token context window
Multimodal understanding
Fast inference
Competitive pricing

Step 1: Configure Slack

Create a Slack app at api.slack.com/apps
Enable Socket Mode and create app token
Add bot token scopes and install to workspace
Set SLACK_BOT_TOKEN and SLACK_APP_TOKEN environment variables
Configure slack in openclaw.json

Step 2: Configure Google Gemini

Google AI API key

Go to ai.google.dev
Create or select a project
Enable the Gemini API
Generate an API key
Set GOOGLE_API_KEY environment variable

Environment variable: GOOGLE_API_KEY

Step 3: Combined Configuration

Add both configurations to your openclaw.json:

{
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "model": {
        "primary": "google-gemini/gemini-2.0-flash-exp"
      }
    }
  },
  "models": {
    "providers": {
      "google-gemini": {
  "models": {
    "providers": {
      "google-gemini": {
        "apiKey": "${GOOGLE_API_KEY}
    }
  },
  "channels": {
    "slack": {
      "botToken": "${SLACK_BOT_TOKEN}",
      "appToken": "${SLACK_APP_TOKEN}",
      "dmPolicy": "allowlist"
    }
  }
}
}

Step 4: Start and Test

# Start the gateway
openclaw gateway start

# Check connection status
openclaw status

# View real-time logs
openclaw logs --follow

Access Control

Slack supports the following access control policies:

DM Policies

Policy	Description
`allowlist`	Only senders in allowFrom list are processed
`pairing`	Unknown senders receive a pairing code; admin must approve
`open`	All DMs are processed (requires allowFrom: ["*"])