What is Dessa?

Dessa is a groundbreaking speech-to-speech AI model crafted by Block, tailored for investigating voice technology in conversations and its diverse uses. This model stands out by processing audio inputs to produce audio outputs directly, eliminating the need for converting to text first. Rather than depending on written language, it is constructed from actual human dialogues, allowing it to engage in full-duplex communication, where listening and speaking occur at the same time. It is designed to function locally on high-performance hardware, such as the MacBook Pro with an M4 Max chip or better, effectively capturing subtle nuances in conversation, including emotions, sarcasm, laughter, pauses, and the flow of dialogue, which are often lost in traditional text-based systems. Primarily targeted at AI safety researchers and developers, Dessa serves as an invaluable resource for investigating the dynamics of voice models, privacy considerations, and the complexities of real-time communication. Notably, Dessa is not meant for general commercial applications or as a hosted voice-agent solution, highlighting its exclusive focus on research and development within the voice technology sector. This intentional design emphasizes its capacity to enhance the comprehension of voice interactions, paving the way for future advancements in artificial intelligence. Furthermore, by concentrating on these aspects, Dessa contributes to a deeper dialogue about the implications of voice technology in society.

Integrations

No integrations listed.

Screenshots and Video

Dark application screen with a pale circular abstract icon centered above the transcript text, “Human winter is coming for sure but you.”

Dark application screen with a pale circular abstract icon centered above the transcript text, “Human winter is coming for sure but you.”

Company Facts

Company Name:
Block
Date Founded:
2009
Company Location:
United States
Company Website:
block.xyz/dessa

Product Details

Deployment
Mac

Product Details

Target Company Sizes
Individual
1-10
11-50
51-200
201-500
501-1000
1001-5000
5001-10000
10001+
Target Organization Types
Mid Size Business
Small Business
Enterprise
Freelance
Nonprofit
Government
Startup
Supported Languages
English

Dessa Categories and Features