# What turn taking in conversational AI is and how voice agents use it

> Original title: What is turn taking in conversational AI: A guide to natural flow

- Source: ElevenLabs Blog
- Published: 2026-10-29T12:00:00.000Z
- Bad Influence: https://badinfluence.news/items/hld195ef3ecn76rnrimf9icky
- Original: https://elevenlabs.io/blog/what-is-turn-taking

## Summary

ElevenLabs explains that turn taking in conversational AI determines when a voice agent replies, holds the floor, or listens. Its ElevenAgents combine voice activity detection with semantic analysis, and the company says Eleven v4 Turbo has a 142 ms median time from request to audible speech.