# Architect Turn Taking Latency

> Use when the user asks about turn taking, speculative turns, agent response latency, preparing responses while the user speaks, turn eagerness or timeout, or how fast the agent replies.

- Skill: `elevenlabs/architect-turn-taking-latency` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add elevenlabs/architect-turn-taking-latency`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/elevenlabs/architect-turn-taking-latency/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: ElevenLabs (https://skillmd.com/u/elevenlabs)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/elevenlabs/architect-turn-taking-latency

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# Turn taking and latency settings

Everything is branch-scoped over the ConvAI REST API (host `https://api.elevenlabs.io`, header `xi-api-key: $API_KEY`). You need `$AGENT_ID` and `$BRANCH_ID`.

## 1. Read the current turn settings

Read the agent's `conversation_config.turn` (and the workflow nodes if the question is workflow-specific) with `GET /v1/convai/agents/$AGENT_ID?branch_id=$BRANCH_ID`. Do not pull the full agent context for procedures and unrelated config; the turn block is what matters here.

## 2. Explain the relevant levers

Based on the user's specific latency or turn-taking question:

- Speculative turn (`speculative_turn`): when enabled, the agent starts preparing the LLM response during silence before full turn confidence is reached, reducing perceived latency.
- Turn eagerness (`turn_eagerness`): controls how quickly the agent jumps in (low, standard, high / eager).
- Turn timeout (`turn_timeout`): maximum wait time before the agent re-engages.

## 3. Apply the change

Use a single-field partial-merge patch with the exact dotted path so you touch only the setting in question:

- `PATCH /v1/convai/agents/$AGENT_ID?branch_id=$BRANCH_ID` with `{"conversation_config":{"turn":{"speculative_turn":true}}}`, or the same shape for `turn_eagerness` / `turn_timeout`.

This commits to branch HEAD and returns a new version. Confirm the change to the user, and note it is on the branch until merged.