# Slack: name the people who may ask the agent in a direct message

2026-10-16 | improved | slack | https://www.gatlas.ai/changelog/2026-10-16-slack-named-people-in-direct-messages

When the Gatlas agent answers only chosen channels, an admin can also name people who may ask it in a direct message.

When the Gatlas agent answers only people in chosen channels, an admin can now also name people who may ask it in a direct message or Slack's assistant pane. Pick them under Who can ask, on the agent's Channels tab. A named person still gets no answer in a channel that was not chosen, and guests are never answered.

[Choose who can ask the agent](https://www.gatlas.ai/docs/agents)

Use it to:

- Let one person ask the agent privately without joining a chosen channel.
- Keep the agent to a few channels while named people ask it directly.