Jack Dorsey’s Block made an AI model that talks to you like an awkward new friend

Block, the fintech company led by Jack Dorsey, has announced a new AI model called Dessa. The model was trained from scratch exclusively on human conversation data, distinguishing it from general-purpose LLMs that draw on broad web corpora. Block shared sample chat transcripts to demonstrate Dessa's conversational style, which it described as occasionally awkward and uncanny.

The decision to train on human conversation alone is notable. Most large language models are pre-trained on massive, diverse datasets spanning books, code, and web pages. By restricting training data to dialogue, Block appears to be pursuing a narrower specialization aimed at natural, human-like interaction rather than broad knowledge coverage.

The shared examples suggest Dessa may prioritize conversational authenticity over polished correctness, producing responses that feel more like a real person's speech patterns. This approach could be relevant for applications where natural dialogue matters more than factual breadth, such as customer service, companionship, or social interaction tools.

Block's entry into AI model development is significant given the company's background in payments and financial services. It remains to be seen whether Dessa will be deployed in Block's existing products or offered as a standalone offering, and how it will compare to established conversational models from larger AI labs.

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