Yelp is upgrading its chatbot assistant to enhance its platform’s capabilities, converting it into a digital concierge experience with a variety of new features. This upgrade is part of a broader industry movement aimed at increasing the practical utility of AI for consumers, leveraging extensive user-generated data to gain a competitive advantage.
The Yelp Assistant chatbot will be central to the app experience, enabling users to ask questions, receive recommendations, and handle bookings within a single conversation. Yelp aims for users to “search less and do more” by utilizing this upgraded AI tool.
A new “Assistant” tab will cover every category on Yelp, marking a substantial expansion from its initial release in 2024 as a basic tool for hiring service professionals. The expanded functionality includes app integrations for ordering food from services like DoorDash and Grubhub.
The chatbot will also allow users to request quotes from local service providers, including those in auto and pet care, and book appointments with wellness, fitness, and healthcare professionals through partnerships with Vagaro and Zocdoc. Support for Yelp Waitlist and upcoming integration with Calendly for scheduling appointments are also anticipated.
Craig Saldanha, Yelp’s chief product officer, stated that this update represents the company’s “most significant AI product evolution yet,” indicating that it marks the beginning of a more conversational, personalized, and action-oriented experience for Yelp users.
