Block, the financial technology company led by Jack Dorsey, has announced plans to develop an open-source AI agent in collaboration with Anthropic, targeting a 2025 release. The AI agent will be designed to assist merchants and consumers using Block’s platforms, including Square and Afterpay. This initiative represents Block’s first major step into AI development, with the company emphasizing transparency and accessibility through its open-source approach. The AI agent will be built using Anthropic’s Claude AI model and will focus on helping merchants with various tasks such as inventory management, customer service, and business analytics. Block’s commitment to open-source development is particularly noteworthy as it contrasts with the closed, proprietary AI systems being developed by many other tech companies. The partnership with Anthropic also aligns with Block’s emphasis on responsible AI development, as Anthropic is known for its focus on AI safety and ethics. The company expects this AI agent to enhance the capabilities of its merchant services while maintaining user privacy and security. Block’s decision to make the agent open-source could potentially accelerate AI adoption in the financial technology sector while providing a framework for other companies to build upon. This move also reflects the growing trend of integrating AI capabilities into financial services and payment platforms.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/block-afterpay-square-open-source-ai-agent-anthropic-2025-1