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Block unveiled Dessa, which it describes as a "true speech-to-speech" model trained from scratch on human conversation and demonstrated via audio chat examples that can sound natural but occasionally awkward. Block says Dessa can run locally on a MacBook Pro M4 Max or better and will be shared early with a small group of AI safety researchers.
Square announced the Square Kiosk, a 21.5-inch touchscreen ordering terminal that includes a conversational AI "agentic, conversational voice layer" to understand menus, answer questions, and accept modifications in real time. The device, which supports presence detection and contactless or card payments, is available starting today for $1,999 for businesses with a Square Plus or Premium subscription and carries a $99-per-device monthly software fee.
Google Maps highlights three dining-focused features: Ask Maps, a natural-language AI search that analyzes photos, reviews and menus and can order delivery via partners like Uber Eats, Toast and Square; weekly-updated dining lists in the Explore tab (Trending, Gems, Top); and “know before you go” community tips on reservations, parking and recommended dishes.
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