Jack Dorsey's Block is challenging Slack by introducing Buzz.

      Jack Dorsey’s Block aims to compete with Slack, but with a unique approach: its target workforce includes both humans and machines. The company has introduced Buzz, an open-source workspace that allows human users and AI agents to operate within the same channels, with each agent possessing a distinct portable identity.

      Block, the fintech led by Dorsey responsible for Square and Cash App, has launched Buzz, a free platform designed for collaboration between humans and AI agents. Reviewers have positioned it as a direct competitor to Slack, catering to the era of AI.

      At first glance, Buzz seems familiar, featuring channels, threads, direct messaging, voice communication, media sharing, code repositories, and automated workflows. Anyone familiar with modern team communication tools will recognize its layout.

      Different from typical assistants, in Buzz, AI agents are treated as colleagues rather than mere bots waiting for commands. Each agent possesses its own cryptographic identity, specific permissions, and the capability to post, analyze code, execute approved automations, and participate in discussions. Both humans and multiple agents coexist in the workspace, collaborating on tasks.

      "Every company will require a space where humans and agents work in tandem," stated Bradley Axen, Block’s Head of AI Capabilities. "The key consideration is whether that space is proprietary or open. We developed Buzz because we advocate for an open environment."

      Buzz is flexible, allowing teams to integrate agents based on any model or framework, including Claude Code, Codex, or Block’s own Goose. Organizations can use their existing agents or create new ones.

      The distinguishing feature of Buzz is its identity framework. Running on Nostr, the decentralized protocol that Dorsey has supported, Block utilizes it to address the core challenge of multi-agent collaboration: identity. Each participant—whether human or agent—possesses a cryptographic keypair unique to them, rather than tied to the platform.

      This model ensures that an agent's identity is not reliant on a vendor's API key, making it portable and verifiable, transferable across any Nostr-compatible system while retaining its history and reputation. This aligns with a broader movement to establish a robust identity system for agents.

      Block’s primary argument centers on control. Many companies are developing their agent ecosystems on proprietary platforms controlled by a limited number of providers, leading to fragmentation and vendor reliance. Buzz operates under an Apache-2.0 license, allowing teams to manage their own instance with complete oversight over data and agents, or opt for Block’s hosted version.

      The open, self-hosted appeal is likely to resonate with European companies that are cautious about US vendor lock-in and concerned about data privacy. This approach also supports the initiative to grant autonomous agents a respected role as they engage in substantive tasks.

      However, Buzz is still in its early stages. The Git integration remains in its infancy. Block is entering a competitive landscape with Slack, Microsoft Teams, and OpenAI, all striving to implement agents in workplace settings. The critical question remains whether an open platform can outpace the established reach of incumbents. Furthermore, the challenge of oversight persists; while granting agents their own identities and permissions is convenient, it raises concerns about the autonomy that safety researchers have cautioned against.