---
id: "entity-block"
type: "entity"
entityType: "organization"
canonicalName: "Block"
aliases: ["Square", "\\\"Block", "Inc.\\\""]
source_timestamps: ["§ Optimizing for the Unknown"]
tags: ["corporate-restructuring", "agentic-ai", "fintech"]
related: ["entity-jack-dorsey", "framework-optimizing-unknown"]
sources: ["futures"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-futures"
originDay: 2
articleStem: "hbr-foci-72-future-ai-fog"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/04/the-future-is-shrouded-in-an-ai-fog"
sourceTitle: "The Future Is Shrouded in an AI Fog"
---
# Block

**Role in the source:** A company cited as **foreshadowing the uncertain future operating model of the firm.** Block reportedly laid off roughly **40% of its staff** as part of what CEO [[entity-jack-dorsey|Jack Dorsey]] claimed were **AI-related changes** — a real-world signal for [[action-modular-org-design]] and the modular-organization pillar of the [[framework-optimizing-unknown|Corporate Optionality Framework]].

**Enrichment note:** Public fintech/tech company (formerly Square). Canonical references: Block's corporate/investor communications and press coverage of the restructuring and Dorsey's AI comments.