The new integration between Yelp and OpenAI allows ChatGPT users to move directly from searching for a place to eat to securing a reservation within the same conversation. The feature is available for thousands of restaurants that use Yelp Reservations and Waitlist.
After making a reservation, users can continue to manage their booking through Yelp, giving the platform a role in both the discovery and reservation stages of the dining experience.
The development builds on an existing relationship between Yelp and OpenAI. ChatGPT already uses information from Yelp, including reviews, ratings, photos and business details, when helping users discover local restaurants.
With the latest update, a user who asks ChatGPT to recommend restaurants can potentially proceed to booking a table without having to leave the conversation and open another platform.
Yelp Responds to Growing Demand for AI Actions
Yelp said the integration reflects growing consumer interest in AI tools that can do more than simply provide answers or recommendations.
According to recent research conducted by Morning Consult for Yelp, 65% of respondents said actions such as making reservations are important when using AI for local searches.
The company also highlighted concerns around trust and transparency in AI-powered search. Yelp said only 15% of Americans who use AI search trust it “a lot”, while 72% believe AI platforms should identify the sources of the information they provide.
By integrating its reservation services into ChatGPT, Yelp can maintain a direct role after users have used its information to make a decision about where to eat.
Restaurants Could Gain More Direct Customers
The integration could also benefit restaurants that use Yelp Guest Manager by putting their listings in front of potential customers at the point when they are ready to make a reservation.
Rather than simply appearing in a list of recommended restaurants, participating businesses can potentially receive customers who have already expressed an intention to dine there.
The development comes shortly after Yelp expanded its relationship with OpenAI. In July, Yelp announced a data-licensing agreement that gives OpenAI access to more than 330 million Yelp reviews and information from more than eight million business listings.
That data can provide ChatGPT with additional local business information when responding to users searching for restaurants and other services.
Yelp Expands Its Reach Across AI and Search Platforms
Yelp has also been extending the reach of its business information beyond its own platform. Its local business data already supports recommendations across services including Apple Maps, Microsoft Bing, Amazon Alexa+, DuckDuckGo and Yahoo.
The company intends to expand its ChatGPT integration beyond restaurants as well.
Yelp plans to add its Request a Quote service, which would allow ChatGPT users to contact service providers through the chatbot instead of simply receiving information about the businesses.
The broader strategy reflects Yelp's effort to make its business listings, reviews and transaction-focused services available across the different platforms people use to search for local businesses.
Restaurant Booking Feature Currently Limited to US and Canada
For now, the new restaurant booking and waitlist functionality is limited to users in the United States and Canada.
Eligible ChatGPT users can search for restaurants, make reservations or join waitlists within the chatbot, while Yelp continues to handle reservation management after a booking has been completed.
The partnership signals a broader shift in how AI assistants could handle local searches. Instead of stopping at recommendations, chatbots are increasingly becoming platforms where users can take the next step and complete real-world tasks.
For Yelp, the integration provides another way to connect its local business data and services with consumers, while giving restaurants an additional path to reach customers who are ready to make a booking.