Yelp has updated its AI assistant to handle a broader range of tasks, from finding dog-friendly hiking areas to reserving tables at restaurants. The new feature allows users to ask questions and complete actions within one conversation, making the platform a hub for everyday needs.

The company's SVP of product, Akhil Kuduvalli Ramesh, demoed the assistant by searching for places to hike with their dog, finding nearby takeout options, checking restaurant recommendations, and even looking into painting services. Yelp claims that this integration makes the platform more versatile, positioning it as both a question-answering service and an action-oriented tool.

Users can now book appointments through external providers such as DoorDash for food delivery or Vagaro for fitness sessions. These integrations make it easier to manage various services without leaving the app, although Yelp acknowledges that this might change in the future.

In addition to these new features, Yelp is enhancing its user experience with quality-of-life updates like the ability to scan menus using photos posted by other users. The company is also introducing an AI-powered tagging and grouping feature for business owners' before-and-after photos, aiming to streamline their workflow.