Block Previews Dessa Voice AI Trained Without Text
Jack Dorsey’s Block is previewing a voice AI model that could change how businesses build conversational interfaces, though its reliability remains to be demonstrated beyond company-selected examples.
Block has introduced Dessa, an experimental AI voice model trained entirely on recordings of human conversations, without written text or pretrained models. The company says the system learned to communicate by listening to people talk rather than relying on the text-based training methods used by conventional language models.
According to Block, Dessa is a full-duplex speech-to-speech model, meaning it can listen and speak simultaneously. Block says it processes audio directly instead of converting speech into text before generating a response, retaining vocal information such as timing, laughter, and intonation that a transcript may omit.
Block says Dessa can react to jokes mid-sentence, adjust its volume when asked, and respond with different speaking styles depending on the conversation. The company also says it trained...
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