Yelp is getting more AI, including an upgraded chatbot

Yelp is expanding its use of artificial intelligence (AI) in its platform, with several updates aimed at enhancing the user experience. The company has upgraded its Yelp Assistant chatbot, which now draws on information from business websites and user posts to provide more comprehensive responses. The chatbot also remembers past queries and preferences. Yelp is also introducing AI-powered features for businesses, including Yelp Host and Yelp Receptionist. Yelp Host is a service for table-service restaurants, enabling them to manage reservations, bookings, and special requests. Yelp Receptionist is a similar service for other local businesses to manage their phone calls. Additionally, Yelp has launched a feature called Menu Vision, which allows users to point their camera at a restaurant's menu to see photos of the dishes and related reviews. These updates are part of Yelp's broader push to integrate more AI into its platform, aiming to enhance both the user and business experiences.