Yelp's AI can now take reservations over the phone

"Host is an AI agent that can answer calls from guests and manage tables, Yelp said. The AI can take reservations over the phone, modify or cancel bookings, provide up-to-date waiting times, and even capture special requests, as well as answer questions about the restaurant, like whether or not it has vegan options or welcomes dogs. It will also be able to send guests links to menus, join waitlists, or place orders for pickup or delivery through an automated follow-up text."

"Yelp is also launching Yelp Receptionist this week, an AI agent it says will handle incoming calls for businesses. Similar to Host, Yelp said the tool will answer calls, respond to customer questions, and collect details needed to vet leads, provide quotes, and schedule appointments. Both will come pre-trained on Yelp's business data and be ready to "work out-of-the-box to answer calls 24/7, or only when extra coverage is needed.""

Yelp introduced Host and Receptionist, AI agents that answer calls, manage tables, take and modify reservations, provide wait times, capture special requests, and answer questions about menus or policies. Host can send menu links, join waitlists, and place pickup or delivery orders via automated follow-up text, with the ability to add diners to the Yelp Waitlist soon. Host pricing starts at $149/month or $99/month for Yelp Guest Manager customers. Receptionist starts at $99/month and is initially limited to eligible businesses. Both tools come pre-trained on Yelp business data and can operate 24/7 or supplement human staff when needed.

Read at The Verge