Square has launched a conversational AI assistant that can answer sellers’ questions about how to use Square’s business technology platform and about trends in their own business. The AI assistant, Square AI, is available now in public beta for all sellers in the U.S. and is integrated into the Square Dashboard. “Our goal is to give each seller their own virtual employee that knows every bit of their business,” Willem Avé, global head of product at Square, said. When asked questions about using the platform, the AI assistant searches its knowledge base and provides step-by-step instructions. To answer questions about the seller’s business, Square AI uses the seller’s relevant data within Square to provide the answer. It can answer questions about sales, customers, staff and transactions, enabling sellers to optimize staff hours, identify slow-moving inventory, maximize top sellers and recognize top customers. The company will expand these capabilities throughout the year. To protect the data within the business, the AI assistant is only available for account owners and administrators. In addition, Square never sends sensitive information to model providers or partners, and it ensures no data processed by third-party companies is retained outside of Square systems or used for any type of training