During April 2026, Gunpowder Client VM enhanced the Hermes agent in the NousResearch/hermes-agent repository by refining its Slack integration. They implemented logic in Python to treat Slack group direct messages (MPIMs) as standard DMs, ensuring the bot only responds with 'eyes' and 'white_check_mark' reactions when directly addressed. This backend development reduced unnecessary bot reactions in group conversations, improving message clarity and relevance. By focusing on API integration and context-aware event handling, Gunpowder Client VM delivered a targeted feature that increased the maintainability and reliability of the Slack adapter, demonstrating disciplined engineering within a focused, high-impact scope.