Yelp has upgraded its Assistant to search local businesses and book reservations or takeout. The tweak extends the chatbot beyond its 2024 contractor‑search launch in 2025 to all Yelp categories. A dedicated Assistant tab now appears in iOS and Android apps, and the bot can be accessed directly from restaurant and retail pages for users.

Yelp’s spring update added third‑party integrations with Vagaro, ZocDoc and Calendly, letting users book appointments for services like haircuts or medical visits through the same chat interface. The company plans a desktop version and full‑business‑type support later in 2026, while mobile users will also get a personalized home page and enhanced photo discovery tools for the app.

By turning Yelp into an end‑to‑end service hub, the company taps the growing demand for seamless booking experiences. Consumers can now find a restaurant, read reviews and reserve a table—all in one conversation. For businesses, the bot offers a new channel to drive traffic and convert reviews into actual reservations or appointments for the next quarter.

With the Assistant tab now visible on mobile and a forthcoming desktop release, Yelp solidifies its position as a go‑to local‑search platform that also handles transactions. The move signals a broader shift toward integrated AI tools that turn review sites into full‑service concierge engines for users in the digital era and businesses to streamline operations.