Yelp’s New AI Assistant Moves Beyond Reviews to Booking
Yelp is transforming its mobile experience by evolving from a traditional review platform into a comprehensive tool for answers and actions. The company has introduced an upgraded AI assistant that enables users to query business information, secure restaurant reservations, order food, and schedule professional services without exiting the conversational flow.
The updated assistant, which debuted in 2024 to assist with service discovery, now leverages the platform’s internal data to facilitate direct tasks. Users can find the feature in a new dedicated tab, strategically positioned in the center of the app’s bottom navigation bar to boost accessibility.
Broadening Capabilities Through Integration
By connecting with external service providers, Yelp is bridging the gap between inquiry and execution. The assistant now supports direct pathways for several specialized actions:
- Food Delivery: Integration with DoorDash and Grubhub for placing orders.
- Health and Beauty: Booking appointments via Vagaro and Zocdoc.
- Home Services: Scheduling car repairs through RepairPal.
- General Appointments: Utilization of Calendly for various business types.
Akhil Kuduvalli Ramesh, Yelp’s SVP of product, emphasized this strategic pivot. “We would really like consumers to reconceive Yelp as a place where they can ask questions and get answers, not just that, but also complete the action,” he noted. While current implementations often redirect users to a partner’s app or site to finalize transactions, the company is positioning itself for a future where these pipelines could become more autonomous.
Enhanced Visual Discovery and Business Tools
Beyond the assistant, Yelp is refining how users interact with visual content. Users can now search business media galleries using natural language queries rather than relying on keyword tags. Additionally, the company is rolling out an AI-powered feature for business owners that automatically tags and groups “before and after” photos, reducing the need for manual administrative work.
The AI assistant is available immediately on iOS and Android. While it currently supports a wide array of business categories, including retail and attractions, Yelp confirmed that a desktop version and broader integration across all business pages are scheduled for release later this year.