Block releases voice model that runs locally on MacBook

Block, the fintech giant behind Square and Cash App, has unveiled a new voice model capable of generating speech that closely resembles human voices. The model is designed to run locally on MacBook computers equipped with Apple's M4 Max chip, meaning it does not require cloud processing or internet connectivity for operation.

The ability to run advanced voice generation on consumer-grade hardware represents a shift in how AI models are being deployed. Local execution reduces latency, improves privacy by keeping audio processing on-device, and removes dependence on external servers.