# Block unveils Dessa, a speech AI model trained only on human speech

> Original title: Block's new AI model Dessa was trained entirely on human speech to catch emotions text-based models miss

- Source: The Decoder
- Published: 2026-10-24T14:09:46.000Z
- Bad Influence: https://badinfluence.news/items/fnt6boypmdyb6ddpl134ax817
- Original: https://the-decoder.com/blocks-new-ai-model-dessa-was-trained-entirely-on-human-speech-to-catch-emotions-text-based-models-miss/

## Summary

Block has unveiled Dessa, an AI speech model that it says is the first trained entirely on human speech with no text data. Dessa processes audio directly rather than converting it to text, which lets it detect emotions, sarcasm, laughter, and pauses, and it supports full-duplex conversation. Dessa is not publicly available; Block is first recruiting AI security researchers to test it for risks.