TECHNOLOGY
Jack Dorsey’s Block made an AI model that talks to you like an awkward new friend
The VergeFriday, October 23, 2026 at 7:32 PM
RedScroll Brief
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.
RedScroll Signal
- Impact
- High
- Category
- Technology
- Market relevance
- Moderate
- Why it matters
- Technology shifts change how people work, communicate, and build — often faster than policy can follow. 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. Secondary effects may show up in markets and supply chains linked to Jack Dorsey and Block.
Desk copy
RedScroll Briefing
Extractive editorial brief — not a reprint of the original
What happened
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.
Why it matters
Technology shifts change how people work, communicate, and build — often faster than policy can follow.
Background
The Verge reported on this under technology. RedScroll surfaces the signal with an extractive brief — not a reprint of the original article. Read the source for full reporting.
Timeline
The Verge published: Jack Dorsey’s Block made an AI model that talks to you like an awkward new friend
Story is in today’s RedScroll edition. Follow the original source for updates.
Economic impact
Secondary effects may show up in markets and supply chains linked to Jack Dorsey and Block.
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Source
The Verge
Original reporting by The Verge. RedScroll provides an extractive briefing only.