Home / Technology / Block Open-Sources AI Desktop App Berd
Block Open-Sources AI Desktop App Berd
19 Aug
Summary
- Block open-sources Berd, an AI agent desktop application.
- Berd is built for local file and project interaction.
- It offers customizable AI agents with distinct visual identities.
Block, the technology company founded by Jack Dorsey, has open-sourced Berd, a desktop application built to unify AI agent interactions. Initially developed for internal use, Berd is now publicly available on GitHub under an Apache 2.0 license for macOS, Windows, and Linux.
The application is designed as a "daily AI work surface," allowing users to manage conversations, attach files, select agents and models, and work within persistent projects. A key feature is its desktop-first architecture, enabling direct engagement with local files and repositories. Berd distinguishes itself by giving AI agents unique visual identities, such as animated characters called "Gloopies," making them easily recognizable.
Berd functions as an orchestration layer, not a new AI model or runtime. It utilizes Tauri 2 and React 19 for its build and communicates with Block's Goose agent framework via the Agent Client Protocol (ACP). This architecture aims to provide a consistent environment for various AI harnesses, making agentic work accessible beyond engineering roles.
The company is focusing development on its collaboration platform, Buzz, and plans to integrate Berd's single-player experience into it. While Berd remains available as an open-source desktop application, Block encourages users to explore Buzz for multiplayer workflows and cross-device continuity.
