Square AI Voice Ordering & Bitcoin Integration - New Features

Square Enhances Merchant Platform with AI and Bitcoin Integration

Square, the merchant payments platform developed by Block, has recently unveiled a suite of new functionalities designed to benefit its merchant base.

These additions include AI-driven voice ordering capabilities specifically tailored for restaurants, improvements to its existing AI assistants, and a built-in Bitcoin solution for accepting and securely storing the cryptocurrency.

AI-Powered Voice Ordering for Restaurants

Restaurants and cafes utilizing Square can now employ AI to efficiently manage incoming phone calls.

This feature is especially advantageous for cloud kitchens and establishments heavily focused on delivery services, as the AI can autonomously handle tasks like order placement, customization requests, and addressing menu inquiries.

The AI bot is capable of responding to questions such as, “What are today’s specials?” or “Please prepare my meal with spice, but exclude all dairy products.”

Competitive Landscape

Several other companies, including Yelp and Kea, are also developing voice AI solutions for the restaurant industry.

However, Square differentiates its offering through seamless integration with its existing payment and kiosk systems, simplifying order management for restaurants.

Additional Restaurant Features

Square is also introducing a Grubhub integration to streamline the processing of third-party delivery orders.

A redesigned kiosk interface provides quicker access to frequently ordered menu items.

Furthermore, an AI-powered inventory management tool assists restaurants in optimizing and controlling their supplies.

Enhanced Square AI Assistant

New features are being added to the Square AI assistant, which was initially released in open beta earlier this year.

The assistant can now deliver localized insights, including current weather conditions, nearby events, and relevant industry trends.

Merchants can now save data visualizations created by the assistant as dynamic widgets on their dashboards for continuous updates.

Mobile App and Conversation History

Square is also expanding functionality within its mobile app, providing merchants with a dedicated dashboard.

Access to a complete conversation history with the Square AI is now available, allowing for improved tracking and analysis.

Bitcoin Integration for Businesses

Jack Dorsey, a co-founder of Block, has consistently demonstrated a strong interest in Bitcoin. Last year, Square initiated a program enabling merchants to convert a portion of their daily revenue into Bitcoin. Now, the company is rolling out a comprehensive Bitcoin solution designed specifically for sellers, complete with a dedicated wallet.

To foster wider Bitcoin adoption, businesses will be able to directly accept the digital currency through their point-of-sale systems. Notably, no processing fees will be applied for the first year of use.

Beginning in 2027, a 1% processing fee will be implemented for these transactions.

Introducing the Square Bitcoin Wallet

Alongside the payment integration, Square is launching an integrated Bitcoin wallet. This wallet will empower merchants to buy, sell, hold, and withdraw the cryptocurrency directly from their Square dashboard.

Previously, Square allowed retailers to convert between 1% and 10% of their daily earnings into Bitcoin. The new Square Bitcoin offering expands this capability, allowing merchants to convert up to 50% of their daily revenue.

The company reports that, since the program’s inception, users have collectively amassed 142 Bitcoins, representing a value exceeding $17 million as of the current date.

“The Bitcoin tools we are developing at Square address two key requirements: ensuring sellers don’t lose potential sales, and providing them with robust financial tools to effectively manage and expand their finances,” stated Miles Suter, Head of Bitcoin Product at Block.

“We are striving to make Bitcoin payments as straightforward as card payments, while simultaneously granting small businesses access to financial management capabilities that were previously reserved for large corporations,” he continued. “Through Square and Cash App, we serve both consumers and businesses, uniquely positioning us to transform Bitcoin into everyday money—not merely a store of value—and to help sellers prepare for the future.”

Bitcoin Adoption Trends

Although numerous online merchants currently accept Bitcoin as a form of payment, a significant proportion of Bitcoin transactions still relate to speculative investment.

eMarketer forecasts that the number of U.S. consumers utilizing cryptocurrency for payments will rise to 7.1 million by 2026.

Block, demonstrating a consistently optimistic outlook on Bitcoin, intends to leverage the anticipated increase in currency adoption through these new merchant services.