Yandex introduces an AI that answers calls and makes bookings

22:56 / 23.07.2026·31·Technology

The Russian technology company Yandex has developed a new AI agent specialized in handling user calls and making bookings for various services. This innovative project is expected to be a new milestone in automating customer communication for entrepreneurs in the service sector. This is reported by Ixbt.com reports .

The new "AI-hostess" system can communicate in natural language with customers calling restaurants, cafes, or other service venues. According to ixbt.com, the virtual assistant continues to accept customer requests even when staff are busy or after business hours. This allows business owners to avoid losing potential customers.

Technological foundation and capabilities

The system is based on Yandex's own developments, including the Alice AI LLM (large language model) and speech recognition and synthesis technologies. This combination allows the AI agent to understand human speech in real time and respond just like a real person. During the conversation, the robot determines the necessary time, checks for availability, and confirms the booking.

If there is no availability at the time requested by the customer, the smart assistant offers alternative options. In complex situations or when a user makes special requests, the system immediately routes the call to a responsible employee. This helps maintain a high level of service quality for customers.

Currently, the new technology is being tested at partner restaurants of the Yandex Yeda service. According to the company's analysis, the virtual agent successfully handled user requests in 99 percent of cases. This includes asking clarifying questions, filtering spam calls, and independently booking tables.

Future plans and areas of application

Yandex does not intend to limit this solution to catering establishments in the future. The AI-hostess technology is planned to be implemented in the following areas:

Beauty salons and barbershops;
Medical clinics and dental centers;
Auto repair shops and technical service centers;
Fitness centers and sports clubs.

At a time when the demand for digital services and AI-based solutions is growing in the Uzbekistan market, the emergence of such technologies may also be interesting for local business representatives. Especially in large cities like Tashkent, where customer traffic is high, automating services helps increase efficiency.

In conclusion, this AI agent introduced by Yandex is not just a technical development, but an important tool for small and medium-sized businesses to reduce employee workload. The popularization of the system could completely change the process of booking appointments by phone in the future.