diff --git a/agent/agent.py b/agent/agent.py
index aae2c8a..2e359bf 100644
--- a/agent/agent.py
+++ b/agent/agent.py
@@ -1,12 +1,26 @@
 import asyncio
+import logging
 
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
 from livekit import rtc
-from livekit.agents import AutoSubscribe, JobContext, WorkerOptions, cli, llm
+from livekit.agents import (
+    AutoSubscribe,
+    JobContext,
+    JobProcess,
+    WorkerOptions,
+    cli,
+    llm,
+)
 from livekit.agents.voice_assistant import VoiceAssistant
 from livekit.plugins import deepgram, openai, silero
 
+
 load_dotenv(dotenv_path=".env.local")
+logger = logging.getLogger("voice-assistant")
+
+
+def prewarm(proc: JobProcess):
+    proc.userdata["vad"] = silero.VAD.load()
 
 
 async def entrypoint(ctx: JobContext):
@@ -22,35 +36,29 @@ async def entrypoint(ctx: JobContext):
         ),
     )
 
+    logger.info(f"connecting to room {ctx.room.name}")
     await ctx.connect(auto_subscribe=AutoSubscribe.AUDIO_ONLY)
 
+    # wait for the first participant to connect
+    participant = await ctx.wait_for_participant()
+    logger.info(f"starting voice assistant for participant {participant.identity}")
+
+    dg_model = "nova-2-general"
+    if participant.kind == rtc.ParticipantKind.PARTICIPANT_KIND_SIP:
+        # use a model optimized for telephony
+        dg_model = "nova-2-phonecall"
+
     assistant = VoiceAssistant(
-        vad=silero.VAD.load(),
-        stt=deepgram.STT(),
+        vad=ctx.proc.userdata["vad"],
+        stt=deepgram.STT(model=dg_model),
         llm=openai.LLM(),
         tts=openai.TTS(),
         chat_ctx=initial_ctx,
     )
-    assistant.start(ctx.room)
-
-    # listen to incoming chat messages, only required if you'd like the agent to
-    # answer incoming messages from Chat
-    chat = rtc.ChatManager(ctx.room)
-
-    async def answer_from_text(txt: str):
-        chat_ctx = assistant.chat_ctx.copy()
-        chat_ctx.append(role="user", text=txt)
-        stream = assistant.llm.chat(chat_ctx=chat_ctx)
-        await assistant.say(stream)
-
-    @chat.on("message_received")
-    def on_chat_received(msg: rtc.ChatMessage):
-        if msg.message:
-            asyncio.create_task(answer_from_text(msg.message))
 
-    await asyncio.sleep(1)
+    assistant.start(ctx.room, participant)
     await assistant.say("Hey, how can I help you today?", allow_interruptions=True)
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    cli.run_app(WorkerOptions(entrypoint_fnc=entrypoint))
+    cli.run_app(WorkerOptions(entrypoint_fnc=entrypoint, prewarm_fnc=prewarm))
diff --git a/agent/requirements.txt b/agent/requirements.txt
index a176044..bc7f6ab 100644
--- a/agent/requirements.txt
+++ b/agent/requirements.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-livekit-agents>=0.8.5
-livekit-plugins-openai>=0.8.0
-livekit-plugins-deepgram>=0.6.4
-livekit-plugins-silero>=0.6.3
+livekit-agents>=0.8.12
+livekit-plugins-openai>=0.8.3
+livekit-plugins-deepgram>=0.6.7
+livekit-plugins-silero>=0.6.4
 python-dotenv~=1.0
+aiofile~=3.8.8
diff --git a/taskfile.yaml b/taskfile.yaml
index 28d172c..b3f8b5c 100644
--- a/taskfile.yaml
+++ b/taskfile.yaml
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ tasks:
 
   install_agent:
     dir: "agent"
+    interactive: true
     cmds:
       - "python3 -m venv venv"
       - cmd: "source venv/bin/activate"
@@ -51,11 +52,13 @@ tasks:
 
   dev_ui:
     dir: "frontend"
+    interactive: true
     cmds:
       - "pnpm dev"
 
   dev_agent:
     dir: "agent"
+    interactive: true
     cmds:
       - cmd: "source venv/bin/activate"
         platforms: