Yelp is getting more AI, including an upgraded chatbot

AI is the star of Yelp’s fall product update. The review site has updated Yelp Assistant, its chatbot to answer users’ questions, rolling the tool out for all business categories. Its responses will draw on information from the business’ website as well as posts by other Yelp users. The chatbot will also remember past queries and preferences when it’s used for finding services. Saved information can be managed in the Yelp app under Yelp Assistant memory settings.

Yelp has been pushing more artificial intelligence into its platform, adding in December and announcing in April. The AI-powered calling is rolling out in the company’s fall update as Yelp Host and Yelp Receptionist. Yelp Host is specifically for table-service restaurants, and promises the ability to take reservations, change bookings and capture special requests. It is available now starting at $149 a month, or $99 a month for customers with a Yelp Guest Manager plan. Yelp Receptionist can manage calls for any “eligible local businesses.” Subscriptions to this AI-powered service start at $99 a month and will begin rolling out this week.

There are several other updates from Yelp, but one of the more interesting ones is Menu Vision. With this resource, pointing your camera at a restaurant’s menu will show photos of the dish in question along with reviews about that particular item. Menu Vision will arrive on the iOS and Android apps this week.