diff --git a/docs/api_reference.md b/docs/api_reference.md
index 5ac7d775..f79ea574 100644
--- a/docs/api_reference.md
+++ b/docs/api_reference.md
@@ -2053,24 +2053,24 @@ result.pay(
 Start call tapping/monitoring.
 
 **Parameters:**
-- `uri` (str): URI to send tapped audio to
+- `uri` (str): URI to send tapped audio to — `rtp://IP:port`, `ws://example.com`, or `wss://example.com`
 - `control_id` (Optional[str]): Unique identifier for this tap
-- `direction` (str): Tap direction: "both", "inbound", "outbound" (default: "both")
-- `codec` (str): Audio codec: "PCMU", "PCMA", "G722" (default: "PCMU")
+- `direction` (str): Tap direction: "speak", "listen", "both" (default: "both")
+- `codec` (str): Audio codec: "PCMU" or "PCMA" (default: "PCMU")
 - `rtp_ptime` (int): RTP packet time in milliseconds (default: 20)
 - `status_url` (Optional[str]): Status webhook URL
 
 **Usage:**
 ```python
 # Basic call tapping
-result.tap("sip:monitor@company.com")
+result.tap("wss://monitor.company.com/tap")
 
 # Tap with specific settings
 result.tap(
-    uri="sip:quality@company.com",
+    uri="rtp://192.168.1.100:5004",
     control_id="quality_monitor_001",
     direction="both",
-    codec="G722"
+    codec="PCMA"
 )
 ```
 
diff --git a/docs/swaig_reference.md b/docs/swaig_reference.md
index c75ed143..2b61707e 100644
--- a/docs/swaig_reference.md
+++ b/docs/swaig_reference.md
@@ -423,9 +423,9 @@ result.tap(
 - `control_id`: Identifier for this tap to use with stop_tap (optional, auto-generated if not provided)
 
 **Audio Configuration:**
-- `direction`: Audio direction to tap (default: "both")
+- `direction`: Audio direction to tap (default: "both"; always sent — the underlying SWML verb defaults to "speak" when omitted)
   - `"speak"`: What party says
-  - `"hear"`: What party hears
+  - `"listen"`: What party hears
   - `"both"`: What party hears and says
 - `codec`: Codec for tap stream - "PCMU" or "PCMA" (default: "PCMU")
 - `rtp_ptime`: RTP packetization time in milliseconds (default: 20)
diff --git a/rest/docs/calling.md b/rest/docs/calling.md
index 903c3bc7..16a89924 100644
--- a/rest/docs/calling.md
+++ b/rest/docs/calling.md
@@ -208,9 +208,13 @@ client.calling.ai_stop(call_id, control_id="ai-1")
 
 ## Live Transcribe & Translate
 
+`action` is an object keyed by the phase (`start`/`summarize`), with the phase's
+parameters inside it — or the literal string `"stop"`:
+
 ```python
-client.calling.live_transcribe(call_id, action="start", lang="en")
-client.calling.live_translate(call_id, action="start", from_lang="en", to_lang="es")
+client.calling.live_transcribe(call_id, action={"start": {"lang": "en", "webhook": "https://example.com/transcripts"}})
+client.calling.live_transcribe(call_id, action="stop")
+client.calling.live_translate(call_id, action={"start": {"from_lang": "en", "to_lang": "es"}})
 ```
 
 ## Fax
diff --git a/signalwire/signalwire/ai_chat/gateway.py b/signalwire/signalwire/ai_chat/gateway.py
index 4f904c7b..823767f8 100644
--- a/signalwire/signalwire/ai_chat/gateway.py
+++ b/signalwire/signalwire/ai_chat/gateway.py
@@ -540,8 +540,13 @@ async def proxy(request: Request) -> Response:
                 return JSONResponse({"status": "ended"}, headers=cors)
 
             if method == "create_conversation":
+                # prepare() decides whether a timeout applies; dropping it here
+                # would report one number to the browser below while the
+                # service quietly keeps its own default.
                 info = await self._client.create_conversation(
-                    params["id"], config_url=params["config_url"]
+                    params["id"],
+                    config_url=params["config_url"],
+                    timeout=params.get("conversation_timeout"),
                 )
                 if minted:
                     cors["X-Chat-Handle"] = minted
diff --git a/signalwire/signalwire/core/function_result.py b/signalwire/signalwire/core/function_result.py
index b1a50923..acea5c90 100644
--- a/signalwire/signalwire/core/function_result.py
+++ b/signalwire/signalwire/core/function_result.py
@@ -480,7 +480,7 @@ def execute_swml(
         """
         # Detect input type and normalize to appropriate format
         if isinstance(swml_content, str):
-            # Raw SWML string - parse to dict so we can add transfer key if needed
+            # Raw SWML string - parse to dict so the action carries a document
             try:
                 import json
 
@@ -496,11 +496,15 @@ def execute_swml(
         else:
             raise TypeError("swml_content must be string, dict, or SWML object")
 
-        action = swml_data
+        # transfer rides BESIDE the SWML document, not inside it — the same
+        # shape connect() and swml_transfer() emit. Inside the document it is
+        # not a SWML key and the call never exits the agent.
+        action: dict[str, Any] = {"SWML": swml_data}
         if transfer:
             action["transfer"] = "true"
 
-        return self.add_action("SWML", action)
+        self.action.append(action)
+        return self
 
     def hangup(self) -> "FunctionResult":
         """
@@ -1362,7 +1366,7 @@ def tap(
         self,
         uri: str,
         control_id: str | None = None,
-        direction: Literal["speak", "hear", "both"] = "both",
+        direction: Literal["speak", "listen", "both"] = "both",
         codec: Literal["PCMU", "PCMA"] = "PCMU",
         rtp_ptime: int = 20,
         status_url: str | None = None,
@@ -1380,7 +1384,7 @@ def tap(
                         Default is generated and stored in tap_control_id variable
             direction: Direction of audio to tap (default: "both")
                       "speak" = what party says
-                      "hear" = what party hears
+                      "listen" = what party hears
                       "both" = what party hears and says
             codec: Codec for tap media stream - "PCMU" or "PCMA" (default: "PCMU")
             rtp_ptime: Packetization time in milliseconds for RTP (default: 20)
@@ -1393,7 +1397,7 @@ def tap(
             ValueError: If direction or codec values are invalid
         """
         # Validate direction parameter
-        valid_directions = ["speak", "hear", "both"]
+        valid_directions = ["speak", "listen", "both"]
         if direction not in valid_directions:
             raise ValueError(f"direction must be one of {valid_directions}")
 
@@ -1412,8 +1416,9 @@ def tap(
         # Add optional parameters if they differ from defaults
         if control_id:
             tap_params["control_id"] = control_id
-        if direction != "both":
-            tap_params["direction"] = direction
+        # Always sent: the verb's own default is "speak", not this helper's
+        # "both", so omitting it would tap less than the caller asked for.
+        tap_params["direction"] = direction
         if codec != "PCMU":
             tap_params["codec"] = codec
         if rtp_ptime != 20:
diff --git a/signalwire/signalwire/search/search_service.py b/signalwire/signalwire/search/search_service.py
index d7193718..c54a320e 100644
--- a/signalwire/signalwire/search/search_service.py
+++ b/signalwire/signalwire/search/search_service.py
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 See LICENSE file in the project root for full license information.
 """
 
+from __future__ import annotations
+
 import hashlib
 import json
 from collections.abc import Awaitable, Callable
diff --git a/tests/unit/ai_chat/test_gateway.py b/tests/unit/ai_chat/test_gateway.py
index 72e52d77..2697df0c 100644
--- a/tests/unit/ai_chat/test_gateway.py
+++ b/tests/unit/ai_chat/test_gateway.py
@@ -608,3 +608,40 @@ async def test_start_then_reload_replays_the_same_conversation(
         assert "messages" in replay.json()
         # and it asked the service for the conversation the handle names
         assert service.seen[-1]["params"]["id"] == gateway.read_handle(handle)
+
+
+async def test_start_forwards_the_configured_timeout_upstream(service: Any) -> None:
+    """prepare() puts conversation_timeout in the start params, but the HTTP
+    dispatch used to rebuild the create_conversation call and drop it — the
+    browser was told 900 while the service kept its 3600 default. The number
+    the page schedules its idle warning around must be the number the service
+    actually enforces."""
+    gw = make_gateway(
+        service,
+        allowed_origins=["https://shop.example.com"],
+        conversation_timeout=900,
+    )
+    try:
+        async with asgi(gw) as http:
+            started = await http.post(
+                "/chat/", json={"method": "start"}, headers=HEADERS
+            )
+            assert started.status_code == 200
+            assert started.json()["timeout"] == 900
+            sent = service.seen[-1]
+            assert sent["method"] == "create_conversation"
+            assert sent["params"]["conversation_timeout"] == 900
+
+            # The chat path auto-creates too, and takes the same timeout.
+            handle = started.headers["x-chat-handle"]
+            chatted = await http.post(
+                "/chat/",
+                json={"message": "hi", "handle": handle},
+                headers=HEADERS,
+            )
+            assert chatted.status_code == 200
+            sent = service.seen[-1]
+            assert sent["method"] == "chat"
+            assert sent["params"]["conversation_timeout"] == 900
+    finally:
+        await gw._client.close()
diff --git a/tests/unit/core/test_function_result.py b/tests/unit/core/test_function_result.py
index 58d52bdc..9c4869ee 100644
--- a/tests/unit/core/test_function_result.py
+++ b/tests/unit/core/test_function_result.py
@@ -543,8 +543,8 @@ def test_execute_swml_dict_does_not_mutate_original(self) -> None:
 
         # The original dict should NOT have 'transfer' key added
         assert "transfer" not in original
-        # But the action's SWML should have it
-        assert result.action[0]["SWML"]["transfer"] == "true"
+        # The action carries it beside the document
+        assert result.action[0]["transfer"] == "true"
 
     def test_execute_swml_sdk_object_with_to_dict(self) -> None:
         """Test execute_swml with an SDK object that has to_dict()"""
@@ -569,12 +569,18 @@ def test_execute_swml_invalid_type_list(self) -> None:
             FunctionResult().execute_swml([1, 2, 3])
 
     def test_execute_swml_with_transfer_true(self) -> None:
-        """Test execute_swml with transfer=True adds transfer key"""
+        """transfer is a SIBLING of the SWML key — the platform's documented
+        action shape, and the one connect()/swml_transfer() emit. Inside the
+        document it is not a SWML key and the call never exits the agent."""
         swml_dict = {"version": "1.0.0", "sections": {"main": []}}
         result = FunctionResult().execute_swml(swml_dict, transfer=True)
 
         action = result.action[0]
-        assert action["SWML"]["transfer"] == "true"
+        assert action["transfer"] == "true"
+        assert "transfer" not in action["SWML"]
+        # Same action shape as the live-proven connect() helper
+        connect_action = FunctionResult().connect("+15551234567").action[0]
+        assert set(action.keys()) == set(connect_action.keys())
 
     def test_execute_swml_with_transfer_false(self) -> None:
         """Test execute_swml with transfer=False does not add transfer key"""
@@ -582,6 +588,7 @@ def test_execute_swml_with_transfer_false(self) -> None:
         result = FunctionResult().execute_swml(swml_dict, transfer=False)
 
         action = result.action[0]
+        assert "transfer" not in action
         assert "transfer" not in action["SWML"]
 
     def test_execute_swml_chaining(self) -> None:
@@ -996,8 +1003,10 @@ def test_tap_default_params(self) -> None:
         swml = result.action[0]["SWML"]
         tap_params = swml["sections"]["main"][0]["tap"]
         assert tap_params["uri"] == "rtp://192.168.1.1:5000"
-        # Default params should not be included
-        assert "direction" not in tap_params
+        # direction is always emitted: the SWML verb's own default is "speak",
+        # so leaving it out would silently tap less than the documented "both".
+        assert tap_params["direction"] == "both"
+        # Params whose helper defaults match the verb defaults stay omitted.
         assert "codec" not in tap_params
         assert "rtp_ptime" not in tap_params
 
@@ -1040,11 +1049,18 @@ def test_tap_negative_rtp_ptime(self) -> None:
         with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="rtp_ptime must be a positive integer"):
             FunctionResult().tap("rtp://1.2.3.4:5000", rtp_ptime=-10)
 
-    def test_tap_direction_hear(self) -> None:
-        """Test tap with direction=hear"""
-        result = FunctionResult().tap("rtp://1.2.3.4:5000", direction="hear")
+    def test_tap_direction_listen(self) -> None:
+        """Test tap with direction=listen (the verb's name for the hear side)"""
+        result = FunctionResult().tap("rtp://1.2.3.4:5000", direction="listen")
         tap_params = result.action[0]["SWML"]["sections"]["main"][0]["tap"]
-        assert tap_params["direction"] == "hear"
+        assert tap_params["direction"] == "listen"
+
+    def test_tap_direction_hear_is_rejected(self) -> None:
+        """"hear" was never a SWML tap direction — the verb's enum is
+        speak/listen/both, so emitting it produced a tap the platform
+        rejects. A loud error beats a silent no-op tap."""
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="direction must be one of"):
+            FunctionResult().tap("rtp://1.2.3.4:5000", direction="hear")  # type: ignore[arg-type]  # intentional invalid input
 
     def test_tap_chaining(self) -> None:
         """Test tap returns self for chaining"""
@@ -1166,7 +1182,7 @@ def test_validated_closed_sets_declared_as_literal(self) -> None:
         literal_cases = [
             (FunctionResult.record_call, "format", ("wav", "mp3", "mp4")),
             (FunctionResult.record_call, "direction", ("speak", "listen", "both")),
-            (FunctionResult.tap, "direction", ("speak", "hear", "both")),
+            (FunctionResult.tap, "direction", ("speak", "listen", "both")),
             (FunctionResult.tap, "codec", ("PCMU", "PCMA")),
         ]
         for fn, param, expected in literal_cases:
diff --git a/tests/unit/core/test_swml_service_swaig.py b/tests/unit/core/test_swml_service_swaig.py
index ba0ea9ee..5de231bf 100644
--- a/tests/unit/core/test_swml_service_swaig.py
+++ b/tests/unit/core/test_swml_service_swaig.py
@@ -243,13 +243,14 @@ def test_can_emit_ai_sidecar_verb(self) -> None:
         svc.add_section("main")
         ok = svc.add_verb_to_section("main", "answer", {})
         assert ok
-        # ai_sidecar isn't in the live SWML schema yet — bypass via raw doc.
-        # Once the schema lands, callers will use add_verb_to_section directly.
-        svc._current_document["sections"]["main"].append({"ai_sidecar": {
+        # ai_sidecar landed in the bundled schema (4645d48), so the supported
+        # path works — and routes the verb through schema validation.
+        ok = svc.add_verb_to_section("main", "ai_sidecar", {
             "prompt": "real-time copilot",
             "lang": "en-US",
             "direction": ["remote-caller", "local-caller"],
-        }})
+        })
+        assert ok
         rendered = json.loads(svc.render_document())
         verbs = [list(v.keys())[0] for v in rendered["sections"]["main"]]
         assert "answer" in verbs