Yelp Introduces AI Assistant to Streamline Finding Service Providers

The new feature leverages large language models to connect users with local businesses more efficiently, enhancing user experience.

Yelp's AI Assistant, now available on iOS and soon on Android, simplifies the process of connecting users with local service providers.
The AI assistant uses follow-up questions to understand user needs and provides relevant business suggestions, including price and availability inquiries.
Yelp ensures the assistant includes both advertisers and non-advertisers in its suggestions, addressing concerns about bias towards sponsored businesses.
In addition to the assistant, Yelp is testing TikTok-style AI-stitched videos to provide visual summaries of businesses.
The company plans to expand its AI capabilities, including a new Fusion API that allows third-party integration for business discovery.