Unofficial tracker. Not affiliated with Block, Inc.

Dessa AI release date and access status

Short answer: Dessa is not released. Block announced the model on October 23, 2026 and has not given a public release date. This page tracks what is confirmed about Dessa access and corrects common claims.

Release dateNot announced

AppNone

APINone

Download / weightsNone

PriceNot announced

Early accessSmall group of AI safety researchers

Timeline

February 7, 2020: Square announces it has acquired Dessa, a Toronto deep learning company.
October 23, 2026: Block publishes the Dessa announcement page with six demo recordings. Jack Dorsey and Dessa lead Ragavan Thurairatnam post about it on X.
October 24, 2026: TechCrunch reports there is "no public access to Dessa at the moment" and that Block has called for safety researchers to test the model.
October 28, 2026: Still no public release. Block's page says "launch links are coming soon" and "more recordings will be shared on X soon."

Is there a Dessa AI API?

No. Block has not announced a Dessa API, SDK or developer program. A site that sells a "Dessa API key" is not selling Block's model.

Can I download Dessa?

No. Block says Dessa can run locally on a MacBook Pro M4 Max or better, which is why many people search for a download. But no weights, installer or code have been published. Treat any "Dessa download" file as unsafe.

Is there a Dessa waitlist?

Block's page invites AI safety researchers to get in touch for early access. For everyone else, Block only says launch links are coming soon. Follow Block on X and check the official page at block.xyz/dessa.

Common wrong claims about Dessa

"It is a text-to-speech voice generator." It is not. The model holds a conversation and answers in speech. It does not read your text aloud.
"It is open source." Nothing has been open sourced, and Block has not said it will be.
"It runs on any laptop." Block's stated minimum is a MacBook Pro M4 Max or better, and that claim is untested outside Block.
"It comes from heydessa.ai." heydessa.ai is an unrelated eCommerce AI agent that happens to share the name.

Read the full overview: What is Dessa AI?

Sources: Block, "Dessa"; TechCrunch; Square acquisition release. Last updated October 28, 2026.