Get started with bots in Google Chat

Important: To use bots in Google Chat, you must use a work or school account.

Bots are special accounts that you can message to connect you to services in Chat, such as looking up information, scheduling meetings and doing tasks.

Google creates and maintains some bots, such as the Meet and Google Drive bots. Other bots are created and maintained by third-party software vendors. 

Find bots and add them in Google Chat or Gmail

If a bot is available in your organisation, you can:

• Send it a direct message.
• Add it to rooms or conversations.

1. Go to Google Chat or your Gmail account.
2. Next to Chat, click Start a chat   Find a bot.
3. Find a bot or enter the bot name in search.
4. Click the bot card.
5. Choose an option:
   • To start a 1:1 message with a bot: Click Message.
   • To add the bot to a room: Click Add to room, select the room, and click Add.

Tip: Bots that you add appear under the Chat section.

Add bots to rooms or conversations in Google Chat or Gmail

1. Go to Google Chat or your Gmail account.
2. Select a conversation or room.
   • If the conversation window is expanded, at the top, click the drop-down next to the name of the room or person.
   • If the conversation window is minimised, tap More options .
3. Click Add people and bots.
4. Choose an option:
   • Enter the name of the bot.
   • Search to find a bot.
5. Click Send.

Learn how to add people and bots to a room or group conversation and how to remove them.

Use slash commands in messages

Use slash commands in Google Chat to communicate quickly with bots. You don’t have to remember the commands. Enter a forward slash /, and a list of commands appears.

Only you can view the slash commands that you use. The bot's responses are visible in the conversation. 

1. Open Chat.
2. Enter a forward slash /. 
   A list of available bots appears. Under each bot name, you’ll see a list of the bot’s commands. The list narrows as you enter more characters to match the available commands. 
3. Choose a command, enter any additional information and press Enter.
   Note: If the bot is not in the direct message or room, the bot will be added when you message it.

Remove a bot from a 1:1 message in Chat or Gmail

1. Go to Google Chat or your Gmail account..
2. Next to the bot, click More options   Remove.

Give feedback and get help with bots in Chat or Gmail

You can message the bot to get help.

1. Go to Google Chat or your Gmail account.
2. Open the conversation or room with the bot.
3. Show available commands:
   • In a 1:1 conversation with the bot, enter help.
   • In a room or group conversation, enter @botname help, where botname is the bot’s name.

Create bots

For information on how to create custom bots for your organisation, go to the Google Chat API documentation. For your organisation's guidelines on bot creation, contact your Google Workspace administrator. Who is my administrator?