Google's advertising business sucked the life out of Tripadvisor and others' free search results. The issue of Google's alleged search bias and how it impacts the travel industry is not going away.
Yelp has for months been testing how it could use the latest generation of artificial intelligence (AI) without undermining the trust of the consumers who use it to find business…
Superapps and connected trips would take a hit if Google were forced to self-immolate. However, competition would flourish if authorities curtail Google bias.
The liability protections that online travel businesses such as Airbnb, Google and Tripadvisor enjoy under the Communications Decency Act could be collateral damage in President Trump's effort to go after Twitter and Google for what he views as "censorship" or biased coverage.
After much shareholder pressure to deliver, Yelp was ready for its moment in the sun after reporting earnings that easily topped Wall Street's estimates.
To recap, Yelp didn't add as many new customers, and it also lost out on some local ad revenue. But the online advertiser promises to work out the kinks of its new business model in 2019.
Call us traditional — because we are on some matters — but we'd rather be greeted and check in with a human. Then we're happy letting the computer program run its course.