Yelp introduces AI agent to check restaurant wait times

Yelp is launching a new feature called ‘Check for Me’ that utilizes an AI-powered voice agent to call restaurants on behalf of users. The tool allows diners to confirm current wait times by entering their party size and phone number through the app. Once the AI agent gathers the information, the results are sent directly to the user via text message.

This rollout is part of a broader trend of conversational errand automation, where AI assistants handle routine phone-based tasks. In addition to the wait-time feature, Yelp is enhancing its AI assistant with improved personalization, allowing it to remember user preferences and access up to 30 days of chat history. The company is also integrating OpenTable to enable seamless restaurant bookings within the app and is introducing new list-building and recommendation features.