Reddit will integrate AI answers into its main search bar

Reddit enhances search with AI, reaching 1 million weekly users.

: Reddit is integrating an AI-powered feature, 'Reddit Answers', into its main search bar to streamline the user's path from question to answer. As described by CEO Steve Huffman, this integration is intended to make search more efficient by offering either AI-generated summaries or traditional user-generated responses depending on user queries. Previously, in its 'beta' phase, this tool existed separately but now, it serves a growing user base of 1 million weekly. This change aligns with Reddit's broader strategy for enhanced search functionalities and aims at making the platform more accessible, yet it acknowledges potential user resistance to AI summaries.

Reddit is set to enhance its search functionality by integrating its AI-powered feature, Reddit Answers, directly into the main search bar. This move aims to provide users with immediate, conversational responses derived from Reddit's vast repository of user-generated content. Initially launched in beta in December 2024, Reddit Answers has already garnered over 1 million weekly active users and is currently available in select countries including the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and India.

The integration is designed to cater to "seekers"—users who typically append "Reddit" to their Google searches to find authentic discussions and advice. By embedding Reddit Answers into the primary search interface, Reddit seeks to streamline the user experience, allowing for more natural language queries and reducing reliance on external search engines.

Technologically, Reddit Answers leverages Google's Gemini model through the Vertex AI platform, enhancing the relevance and speed of search results. This partnership, part of a $60 million annual deal with Google, not only improves Reddit's search capabilities but also provides Google with access to Reddit's data for training its AI models.

Financially, the introduction of AI features like Reddit Answers has positively impacted Reddit's performance. The company reported a 31% year-over-year increase in daily active users and a 61% rise in revenue, reaching $392.4 million in the first quarter of 2025. These figures surpassed Wall Street expectations and contributed to a 6.5% surge in Reddit's stock price.

While the integration promises a more intuitive search experience, some users have expressed concerns regarding the accuracy and transparency of AI-generated summaries. Reddit has addressed these concerns by ensuring that Reddit Answers provides citations and links to original posts, allowing users to verify the information and explore discussions in depth.

Sources: TechCrunch, MarketWatch, AP News, Reddit

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