Popular review website Yelp has harnessed the power of AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) to introduce several new features that greatly improve the user experience. These updates include a satisfaction guarantee program for home service professionals, AI-powered search features, and a range of interactive tools for users. Additionally, Yelp has refreshed its visual design with users in mind, making it easier for them to form relationships with businesses in their local community.
Yelp’s Vice President of Consumer Product, Akhil Kuduvalli, spearheaded the launch of the “Surprise Me” feature, which provides users with one-of-a-kind and highly-rated restaurant recommendations near them. This feature has been used to suggest over one million businesses each month. LLMs have also been used to enhance the user experience by enabling Yelp to understand the nuances of user search terms when searching for a given business. AI-driven photo categories have also been introduced to help users quickly identify the type of establishment they are looking for.
Yelp has also introduced a “Yelp Guaranteed” program in selected home services categories, enabling consumers to get up to $2,500 back should something go wrong during an eligible project. This program is currently available in select locations across the US, including San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, Seattle, and Washington DC.
Users can now also upload high-resolution videos up to twelve-seconds in length alongside their text review and photos, and utilize new interactive review topics. Yelp has implemented several expressive reactions to express approval or disapproval of reviews and clarified its home feed to better contextualize local businesses before consumers take action. Yelp has significantly improved its online login system, allowing consumers to sign in with a unique email link that securely authenticates with one click.
Through its consistent use of AI and LLMs, Yelp is helping users make informed decisions about the businesses they choose to interact with. By providing more relevant and useful information, Yelp has greatly enhanced the user experience and enabled users to quickly find the businesses they are looking for.
Yelp is an American public-traded multinational corporation, headquartered in San Francisco, dedicated to connecting people with local businesses through its online reviews. Founded in 2004, Yelp now hosts more than 3.8 billion user-generated reviews of businesses, making it one of the largest and most powerful consumer review websites in the world.
Ramesh Vankayala is Vice President of Home Services at Yelp. Vankayala has been instrumental in developing new features and services for the company, including its Yelp Guaranteed home services satisfaction program. Vankayala is responsible for growing Yelp’s home services business, which currently covers popular categories including movers, plumbers, contractors, electricians, and landscapers.
