Ditch Apps: AI Now Books Your Tables via Text

The restaurant discovery app Zest has introduced a new AI-powered concierge that operates entirely through text messages. This feature aims to streamline the process of finding and booking dining experiences, moving beyond traditional mobile applications. Users can text the Zest concierge to receive personalized recommendations based on their past dining habits, which are tracked via linked credit card transactions through Plaid.

The AI concierge not only suggests restaurants but can also check availability and make reservations directly within text conversations. It can even be added to group chats to help find suitable dining options for multiple people, incorporating a voting feature to settle indecision. This move signifies a broader trend of conversational AI agents taking over tasks previously handled by dedicated apps.

Zest's founder, Mario Gomez-Hall, highlights that the AI begins with a user's actual dining history, enabling faster, more accurate recommendations than general assistants. The company plans to expand its services beyond restaurants to include recommendations for shopping and other businesses, with booking and ordering serving as initial revenue streams.