### Answer Based on the available sources, backchanneling is not deprecated in Retell AI [(1) ]() [(2) ]() [(3) ]() . The API documentation shows that

enable_backchannel

,

backchannel_frequency

, and

backchannel_words

are active configuration options for voice agents [(1) ]() . Backchanneling allows agents to interject with phrases like "yeah" or "uh-huh" to signify interest and engagement during conversations [(1) ]() [(3) ]() . If you're seeing a deprecation warning or experiencing issues with backchanneling, it may be related to a specific implementation or configuration. Could you share more details about where you encountered this deprecation notice?

​ To learn more, see the sources I considered: [[1] Get Agent Versions](https://docs.retellai.com/api-references/get-agent-versions) [[2] Retell AI's Turn-Taking Model for Seamless Calls | Retell AI](https://www.retellai.com/blog/how-retell-ais-turn-taking-model-ensures-seamless-calls) [[3] AI Voice Agents in 2026: Everything Businesses Need to Know | Retell AI](https://www.retellai.com/blog/ai-voice-agents-in-2026) ​

Feel free to tag @AI Evy with additional questions. I also appreciate feedback, it helps me improve.