# Yelp adds restaurant-calling AI and a $30 monthly lead-response service

_Published Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 8:07 AM EDT · AI, Products · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![Yelp adds restaurant-calling AI and a $30 monthly lead-response service — Primary](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Yelp-waitlist.jpg?resize=1200,675)

Yelp is adding an AI agent that calls restaurants to check wait times and launching Smart Lead Reply, a paid service that responds to prospective customers and qualifies leads. Business owners can specify how the agent handles conversations; the service costs $30 per month.

The consumer feature, Check for Me, takes a party size and phone number from a restaurant page, calls the restaurant and texts back the result. Yelp is also integrating OpenTable bookings into its AI assistant. Calls may involve a restaurant's own agent, creating a risk that communication breaks down.

## Sources

- [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/yelp-can-now-call-on-your-behalf-to-check-wait-times-at-a-restaurant/)

---
Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/3LkeSaDbxf8C9R9U3QCcGs
Published: 2026-10-20T12:07:59.311Z
Story chronology: 2026-10-20T11:00:00.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-10-20T15:23:41.154Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)