---
id: "entity-org-block"
type: "entity"
entityType: "organization"
canonicalName: "Block"
aliases: ["Square", "\\\"Block", "Inc.\\\""]
source_timestamps: ["¶3"]
tags: ["company", "fintech"]
related: ["entity-jack-dorsey", "concept-ai-automation-strategy"]
sources: ["spine"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-spine"
originDay: 1
articleStem: "hbr-ext-19-augmentation-over-automation"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/04/why-companies-that-choose-ai-augmentation-over-automation-may-win-in-the-long-run"
sourceTitle: "Why Companies That Choose AI Augmentation Over Automation May Win in the Long Run"
---
# Block

A financial-technology company (formerly **Square**) providing payments and financial services, led by [[entity-jack-dorsey|Jack Dorsey]]. In **February 2026** (as cited in the article) Block laid off **more than 4,000 people — nearly half its workforce** — citing "intelligence tools" changing how companies are built and run. The authors use Block as the flagship example of an [[concept-ai-automation-strategy|AI Automation Strategy]] and the entry point into [[framework-automation-decline|The Automation Path]]. See the attributed quote [[quote-dorsey-intelligence-tools]].