Jack Dorsey’s Block challenges Slack with Buzz.

      Jack Dorsey’s Block aims to rival Slack with its new initiative. The unique aspect of its endeavor is that the workforce it is creating comprises both humans and machines. The new app, Buzz, is an open-source workspace that allows humans and AI agents to share the same channels, with each agent possessing its own portable identity.

      Block, the Dorsey-led fintech company behind Square and Cash App, has launched Buzz, a free open-source platform designed for collaboration between humans and AI agents. Reviewers have positioned it as a direct competitor to Slack, which is tailored for an era of AI agents.

      At first glance, Buzz seems familiar. It features channels, threads, direct messaging, voice communication, media sharing, code repositories, and automated workflows; anyone familiar with modern team chat applications will recognize its layout.

      Agents as collaborators, not assistants

      The distinction lies beneath the surface. In Buzz, AI agents are not simple bots awaiting commands. Each agent possesses its own cryptographic identity, designated permissions, and the capability to post, review code, execute approved automations, and engage in discussions. Both humans and multiple agents collaborate within the same workspace and build upon each other’s contributions.

      “Every company will need a space for humans and agents to collaborate,” stated Bradley Axen, Block’s Head of AI Capabilities. “The critical question is whether that space is proprietary or open. We developed Buzz because we believe it should be open.”

      It is adaptable to various models. Teams can integrate agents built using any framework or model, such as Claude Code, Codex, or Block’s own goose. They can utilize their existing agents or create new ones.

      The identity strategy

      Buzz operates on Nostr, the decentralized protocol that Dorsey has supported for some time. Block selected it in order to address what it describes as the fundamental challenge of multi-agent collaboration: identity. Each participant, whether human or agent, possesses a cryptographic keypair that is unique to them, independent of the platform itself.

      This ensures that an agent’s identity is not bound to a vendor’s API key. It remains portable and verifiable, able to transition across any Nostr-compatible system while retaining its history and reputation. This approach aligns with a broader movement to establish a robust identity system for agents.

      Open vs. proprietary

      Block’s main argument centers around control. Many companies are developing their agent infrastructures within proprietary platforms managed by a limited number of providers, leading to fragmentation and dependency on vendors. Buzz operates under an Apache-2.0 license, allowing teams to run their own instance with complete control over their data and agents, or to utilize Block’s hosted option.

      This open, self-hosted proposition should resonate with European companies concerned about US vendor lock-in and the potential loss of data control. It also aligns with the initiative to grant autonomous agents their own recognition as they engage in genuine work.

      A crowded marketplace

      Buzz is still in its early stages. The Git integration is in its infancy. Furthermore, Block is entering a competitive landscape where Slack, Microsoft Teams, and OpenAI are all striving to implement agents in the workplace. The fundamental question remains whether openness can outmatch the established players' influence. Moreover, there are concerns regarding oversight: granting agents their own identities and permissions is convenient, but it also poses risks, a point that safety researchers continue to highlight.