Yelp is diving headfirst into AI, rolling out 15 fresh features in their Spring Product Release this April 2025. The company’s latest push aims to simplify hiring service pros and boost restaurant operations, using AI and large language models to sift through Yelp’s massive data pile. Oh, sure, because who doesn’t trust a robot to handle your home renovation?

Previous updates from late 2024 already tossed in AI summaries and review insights, focusing on efficiency and better communication for businesses. Now, it’s all about cutting through the noise, building trust, and making decisions faster. Pretty slick, if you ask me.

Take the Yelp Assistant, for instance. This AI chatbot links users with pros in categories like home repairs or beauty services. Upload a photo, and bam—AI recognizes the project needs, firing off smart follow-up questions. It’s rolling out on iOS first, with Android and desktop versions on the way.

Yelp Assistant: This AI chatbot hooks you up with pros for home repairs or beauty. Upload a photo, and bam—it spots needs and asks smart questions, starting on iOS!

Privacy? They’ve got that covered, masking phone numbers during texts or calls. Users can even edit projects and broadcast changes to multiple pros. Talk about not wasting time on back-and-forth nonsense.

Then there’s the revamped Yelp Guest Manager for restaurants. It streamlines seating, amps up guest experiences, and adds AI analytics for feedback surveys. Automated waitlist cleanups and easier shift scheduling? Finally, a tool that doesn’t make managers pull their hair out.

Oh, and they’re testing AI call-answering services that handle questions, filter spam, and even book reservations. For service businesses, it captures leads and asks the right follow-ups. Review insights get a boost too, with AI summarizing sentiments on food or service, scoring them out of 100. It’s like having a snarky sidekick summing up the vibes.

Consumer perks include guaranteed seating spots and real-time waitlist updates on your iPhone lock screen. The home feed gets smarter, personalized with AI-curated videos and reviews. Visual searches? More photo-heavy now, making it easier to spot trends.

Yelp’s not messing around—it’s bold, a bit cheeky, and honestly, about time. This release might just change how we dine and hire, for better or worse.