Yelp upgrades its AI Assistant to help book services and order food

In short: Yelp is upgrading its AI Assistant so people can not only find places and services, but also book and order things in the same chat.

What happened

Yelp says it is giving its in-app AI Assistant a major upgrade. The company wants the assistant to sit at the center of the app experience, so you can ask questions, get recommendations, and take the next step without jumping between pages.

The AI Assistant will appear in a new “Assistant” tab across Yelp categories. This is a big expansion from its earlier version in 2024, which focused mainly on hiring service professionals.

Yelp is also adding connections to other apps and services so the assistant can help complete tasks. Yelp says users will be able to order takeout or delivery through services like DoorDash and Grubhub, request quotes from nearby professionals for things like auto and pet care, and book appointments through providers including Vagaro (often used for salons and fitness) and Zocdoc (used for doctor visits).

The company says support for Yelp Waitlist is coming soon. It also says it plans to add Calendly, a scheduling tool (like a shared calendar link for booking a time).

Why it matters

For regular users, this could make Yelp feel less like a list of search results and more like a concierge (like a helpful front desk that can also place the booking). If it works well, it may save time by keeping planning and action in one conversation, instead of sending you to multiple apps and checkout screens.

Source: The Verge AI