Yelp licenses its reviews, ratings, photos and other local business information to OpenAI, thereby integrating its content directly into ChatGPT responses, according to Axios.
The partnership gives ChatGPT another source of real-time, local business information as AI assistants compete more directly with traditional search engines for everyday consumer queries.
When users ask ChatGPT for local recommendations, responses can include Yelp reviews, ratings, photos, and business details. Yelp branding and links will appear alongside the information, and the companies plan to add Yelp’s “Request a Quote” feature, allowing users to contact local service providers directly from ChatGPT.
For marketers, the deal reflects a broader shift in how consumers discover companies. As AI assistants become another destination for local search, brands are increasingly relying on third-party data sources to shape how they appear in AI-generated recommendations.
The deal also illustrates how companies with proprietary data are adapting to generative AI. Rather than competing with AI platforms for users’ attention, Yelp is extending the same distribution strategy it uses with platforms like Apple Maps by making its content available in ChatGPT.
This approach mirrors similar licensing agreements between OpenAI and publishers, Reddit and other companies offering proprietary content. The strategy gives AI platforms access to reliable, up-to-date information while creating new distribution channels for content owners.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, and Axios reported that the deal does not prevent Yelp from licensing its data to other AI companies.
The position Yelp brings local reviews and leads to ChatGPT appeared first on MarTech.
