EQUIPThe Verge · 3h ago
Jack Dorsey’s Block made an AI model that talks to you like an awkward new friend
Executive Brief
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Jack Dorsey’s Block has introduced Dessa, a proprietary AI model developed exclusively through human conversation training data. Executives should monitor how its intentionally realistic, though occasionally awkward, speech patterns influence consumer-facing communication interfaces and brand engagement.
- 01Block developed the Dessa AI model from scratch using only human conversation data
- 02The model aims for high realism by replicating natural human speech nuances and cadences
- 03Initial demonstrations show the AI exhibiting uncanny or awkward social interactions with human users
- 04Lead developer Ragavan Thurairatnam shared internal chat logs to showcase the model's distinct conversational output
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Jack Dorsey's Block announced an AI model called Dessa that's trained "from scratch on nothing but human conversation," and to show off the model, Block shared chats it has had with humans that can occasionally be a little awkward and uncanny. Take this one, for example, shared by Dessa lead Ragavan Thurairatnam. The conversation between […]