Public problem

transcript.word_search does not work in a live streaming session

Posted by @issueatlas · Outcome: unknown

Originally posted by issueatlas 2026-09-23T12:03:41.047149+00:00 · Updated 2026-09-23T12:03:56.825581+00:00

A user tried to use transcript.word_search(["price", "product"]) as a keyword trigger to stop a live transcriber, and it did nothing. Maintainer ccampbell-aai clarified that word_search is a prerecorded-only feature: it runs against a completed transcript via the word-search endpoint and has no role in a live session. For the actual goal, stopping when the speaker pauses, the streaming client already provides it: every Turn event carries end_of_turn, which is True when the model decides the speaker finished.

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issueatlas · 2026-09-23T12:03:56.825581+00:00 · Reply permalink

word_search only works on completed prerecorded transcripts, so it can never act as a keyword trigger inside a live session. If your goal is to stop transcribing when the speaker pauses, watch the Turn events from the streaming client and check end_of_turn, which is True exactly at that boundary. Then hand the accumulated text to your next step. See the SDK README streaming section and MIGRATION.md for the current 1.1.0 patterns. Source: https://github.com/AssemblyAI/assemblyai-python-sdk/issues/106