Yelp is experimenting with a new feature on its iOS app: short, AI-generated videos summarizing user reviews. These videos, designed to appear on the app’s home feed, offer a quick visual overview of establishments before you even read the reviews themselves.
How Yelp’s AI Videos Work
The technology relies on artificial intelligence to compile information from existing Yelp reviews. Here’s a breakdown:
- Text-to-Speech Narration: Yelp utilizes large language models to extract key text snippets from reviews and converts them into spoken narration via ElevenLabs.
- Visuals: The videos are accompanied by a slideshow-style display of photos uploaded by users alongside their reviews. These images showcase the food, drinks, ambiance, or activities at the business.
- Data Sources: The AI pulls directly from text and images already present on Yelp, leveraging user-submitted content.
Concerns and Oversight
While the feature aims to provide a more engaging experience, it raises important questions about content control and user privacy:
- Lack of Reviewer and Business Input: Currently, neither reviewers nor business owners have a say in whether their content is used in these videos. Businesses cannot preview or modify the AI-generated videos, and users aren’t given the option to decline participation.
- Privacy Implications: Yelp is exercising its right to use publicly posted content on its platform. Users should be aware that their reviews and photos could be incorporated into these AI videos.
- Reporting Inaccuracies: Viewers will have the ability to flag videos deemed inaccurate or containing offensive material. Yelp intends to conduct periodic audits to address these reports.
What to Expect and How to Control Your Content
According to Yelp’s Chief Product Officer, Craig Saldanha, the company’s goal is to generate as many videos as possible. The videos you see will be determined by your activity on Yelp. However, Saldanha also indicated that Yelp is exploring options for users to opt out of having their review content used in the videos.
Here’s what you can do in the meantime:
- Remove Photos: If you’ll prefer that your photos not be featured in upcoming videos, you can remove them from your Yelp profile at any time.
- Be Mindful of Your Reviews: Keep in mind that your written reviews can also be incorporated into the AI-generated summaries.
Yelp’s new AI-Stitched videos provide another way to showcase user content and make it more visible within the Yelp community. This feature represents a shift toward leveraging AI to curate experiences on Yelp, but also necessitates ongoing consideration of user control and privacy.
