# Voice Agent

> An AI agent that listens and responds through speech, often while using tools or handing off tasks.

- Category: AI-Native Product
- Stage: Rising
- Also called: Speech agent, Realtime agent
- Canonical: https://www.joelcsaji.com/ai-dictionary/voice-agent

## Plain English

It is a phone or voice assistant that can do work, not just transcribe or reply.

## Example

A voice support agent verifies identity, checks an order, and routes a complex issue to a human.

## Why it matters

Voice agents bring agentic AI into call centers, accessibility workflows, vehicles, and hands-free products.

## Related

- [AI Agent](https://www.joelcsaji.com/ai-dictionary/ai-agent)
- [Handoff](https://www.joelcsaji.com/ai-dictionary/handoff)
- [Latency](https://www.joelcsaji.com/ai-dictionary/latency)

## Sources

- [OpenAI: Agents SDK](https://platform.openai.com/docs/guides/agents-sdk)
- [OpenAI: Text Generation](https://platform.openai.com/docs/guides/text-generation)