I’ll do almost anything (read: everything) to avoid calling a restaurant just to ask how long the wait is. Yelp may have fixed that for me.
The new feature handles that tedious task. It’s part of Yelp Assistant’s fall update.
What can Yelp’s new voice agent do?
On a restaurant’s page in the app, you ask how long the wait is, give the assistant the required details, and share the phone number. The AI agent then calls the restaurant, checks the wait time, and sends you the answer within minutes.
Yelp says the feature will arrive in the next few months, starting with iPhone users in the United States. Android users will have to wait for further word. Honestly, I’m curious how hosts will feel about getting calls from bots.
Yelp Assistant can also make reservations through OpenTable at tens of thousands of restaurants, another iOS-only feature for now. Yelp Waitlist is also joining the chat, letting you join a waitlist and get notified when your table is ready.
What else is new in Yelp Assistant?
The rest of the update focuses on personalization. With Keep Me Posted, you can schedule recurring push notifications for recommendations, whether that’s a weekly date-night idea or a roundup of dog-friendly trails.
Yelp Assistant’s answers will also draw on your previous chats and reviews, plus live weather data, so you’re less likely to book a patio in a downpour. With My Lists, you can save, rank, and share places you’ve visited or want to try.
Starting next month, Yelp will also send weekly recommendations based on your lists. For businesses, Smart Lead Reply, a $30-per-month AI agent, will answer quote requests instantly, starting next month.
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