Yelp is making its AI chatbot way more useful

Yelp is giving its chatbot assistant a major upgrade, turning the platform into something closer to a digital concierge with a suite of new features designed for “getting things done.” The move, one of several AI-focused updates in recent months, is part of a broader industry push to make AI more relevant and practically useful to consumers while turning huge troves of user-generated data into a competitive edge.

In a press release, Yelp says the Yelp Assistant chatbot will be at “the center of the app experience,” where it can answer questions, make recommendations, and even handle bookings in a single conversation. The bot will be available through a new “Assistant” tab spanning every category on Yelp, a significant expansion from its 2024 debut as a tool for hiring service professionals.

Yelp is also broadening Assistant’s reach with a set of app integrations that let users order takeout or delivery through DoorDash, Grubhub, and other delivery services, request quotes from professionals in the area like auto and pet care, and book appointments with beauty, wellness, fitness, and healthcare providers through Vagaro and Zocdoc. Support for Yelp Waitlist is “coming soon,” as is Calendly integration for scheduling appointments.

Craig Saldanha, Yelp’s chief product officer, described the update as the company’s “most significant AI product evolution yet,” adding that it is “only the beginning of a more conversational, personalized and action-oriented Yelp experience.”