Jack Dorsey's Block unveiled Dessa, an AI model trained purely on human conversation that runs locally on a MacBook M4 Max.
Block built Dessa from scratch using only human conversation data, and the company is showcasing sample chats that it acknowledges can feel 'awkward.' The model's standout technical claim is that its voice output runs locally on consumer hardware, specifically a MacBook M4 Max, without needing cloud inference.
Block published example conversations publicly to demonstrate the model's conversational style and limitations, a transparency move that's less common among labs launching new voice models.
On-device voice models that skip cloud inference cut latency and data-exposure risk — a real selling point for any company building customer-facing voice agents. Block entering the model race also signals fintech and payments players now see proprietary AI as core infrastructure, not just a vendor relationship.
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