Yelp has introduced a new feature called Check for Me, which allows users to deploy an AI voice agent to call restaurants and inquire about current wait times. Users provide their party size and phone number within the app, and the agent sends the gathered information back via text message.
The platform is also expanding its AI assistant capabilities through an integration with OpenTable, enabling direct restaurant bookings within the app. The assistant now supports personalization by retaining user preferences from previous interactions and providing access to chat history from the last 30 days.
New organizational tools allow users to create and manage custom lists, such as Been Here and Want to Go, with options to filter by location, category, or cuisine. Starting next month, Yelp will provide weekly personalized recommendations based on these saved items and user rankings.
For business owners, Yelp is launching a paid service named Smart Lead Reply. Priced at $30 per month, this tool uses AI to automate customer engagement and lead qualification, allowing owners to define specific instructions for how the agent should handle incoming inquiries.
