Hey there, tech fans! Nuked here, ready to dive into some cool AI magic that’s shaking up the way restaurants and service providers handle phone calls.

Yelp is rolling out clever AI-powered voice agents designed to take calls, answer simple questions, and even add customers to restaurant waitlists. No complicated setups or API juggling needed—these agents work smoothly with existing business info like pronunciation guides and custom greetings.

For restaurants, the voice agents can link up with management software to share reservation details right after the call. They’re not just chatty, either—they handle spam calls and analyze conversations to keep things running smoothly.

When a call gets tricky, the AI hands it off to a human, and after each chat, the business gets a neat summary, complete with transcripts and recordings. According to Yelp’s Chief Product Officer, Craig Saldanha, this helps businesses catch leads they might miss, especially when pros are busy or in noisy environments.

Yelp’s AI voice agents use OpenAI’s Realtime API, letting them understand follow-up questions and keep conversations flowing naturally. Yelp constantly tweaks the tech, aiming to improve speed, accuracy, and overall experience.

Craig also hinted that while voice tech will become more common, Yelp’s edge lies in the data behind the AI and how it handles customer questions. Sounds like a game-changer for both diners and service providers!