Yelp’s updated AI assistant can answer questions and book a restaurant or service in one conversation

Yelp is taking a significant leap forward in user engagement by updating its AI assistant, allowing users to seamlessly ask questions and book services within the same conversation. This new feature aims to transform Yelp from a traditional review platform into an interactive answers and action hub. Launched in 2024, the AI assistant enables users to explore various services, make restaurant reservations, order takeout, and even book professional services without breaking the conversational flow. During a demonstration, Akhil Kuduvalli Ramesh, Yelp's Senior Vice President of Product, showcased the assistant's capabilities. He effortlessly searched for dog-friendly hiking spots, discovered takeout options, and made reservations—all while remaining within the chat interface. "We want consumers to rethink Yelp as a place for questions and actions, not just reviews," he explained. The AI assistant's functionality is grounded in detailed information sourced from the platform, including user reviews and business websites, minimizing the risk of inaccurate responses. Positioned strategically in the app's bottom navigation bar, the assistant is more accessible for users on both iOS and Android devices, with plans for a desktop version and wider business integration later this year. In addition to providing information, Yelp's assistant now integrates with external providers like DoorDash and Grubhub for food orders, Vagaro for appointments, ZocDoc for medical consultations, and RepairPal for car services. While these actions redirect users to the respective service's app or website, Kuduvalli hinted that future iterations might allow for more integrated transactions. Alongside the AI advancements, Yelp is also introducing quality-of-life updates, such as menu scanning features that display user-uploaded photos of dishes and enhanced search capabilities using natural language. Moreover, business owners will benefit from an AI-driven tagging system for managing before-and-after photos, streamlining their workflow. With these innovations, Yelp is poised to significantly enhance how users interact with its platform, making it a more comprehensive tool for discovering and booking services.