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Block unveils Dessa full-duplex voice model with local MacBook support

Block has introduced Dessa, a full-duplex voice model that can listen while speaking and mimic laughter, pauses and a choked-up voice. The company says it was trained entirely on human speech and runs locally on MacBooks with M4 Max or higher configurations. It is not yet available for public testing; Block is inviting safety researchers to examine deception risks.

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Block unveils Dessa full-duplex voice model with local MacBook support
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What to know

  • 01

    Block says Dessa draws its knowledge from the conversational data used in training.

  • 02

    The research team shared conversation demos showing changes in voice, speaking speed and emotion.

Why it matters

Square, part of Block, already uses voice AI to handle orders, providing a merchant-services backdrop to the announcement.

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