Reddit Joins AI Race, Introduces AI Search Feature

On Monday, Reddit announced the launch of Reddit Answers, a new AI-powered feature designed to help users quickly find answers by leveraging content from user posts.

Accessible via a dedicated button on the homepage, the feature provides an interface similar to ChatGPT or Perplexity, allowing users to pose questions to the AI directly.

Currently available to a limited audience, Reddit plans to expand the tool to additional languages and regions, underscoring its commitment to enhancing accessibility and user engagement.

Reddit Answers Will Enhance Search Experiences

Reddit's new AI-generated answers stand apart from other AI-powered tools by sourcing information exclusively from user posts on the platform, rather than across the web.

Initially, this feature will be available to a limited number of US users as part of a trial before its broader rollout.

Reddit spokesperson Tim Rathschmidt highlighted the AI's ability to quickly capture trending topics on the platform, often within minutes.

According to Reddit's Vice President of Product, Serkan Piantino, the AI answers feature has been in development for six months, aiming to enhance how users find information and improve the platform overall.

When users pose questions, the AI delivers concise, bullet-pointed tips.

For example, a query about kitchen modifications for a specific model could yield actionable advice with direct links to relevant Reddit discussions.

Piantino added:

“Reddit Answers is more about building a bridge to the content than it is about being a replacement for it. The company wants people to use the feature to access more Reddit content as opposed to merely reading AI-generated summaries.”

While the tool covers a wide range of topics, it excludes NSFW (not safe for work) content, ensuring a safer browsing experience.

Reddit Aims to Increase Traffic to Their Platform

In October, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman highlighted the company's strategic focus on search as a key investment for 2025, emphasizing its role in helping new users discover their communities on the platform.

During Reddit's third-quarter earnings call, Huffman described this initiative as an opportunity to drive revenue through AI integration.

Huffman said:

“It helps core users navigate Reddit, answer their questions and it is a monetization opportunity.”

Over the past year, Reddit has emerged as one of Google's most-visited sources, partly due to internal optimisations and Google's algorithm updates favouring authentic content from online forums.

Huffman in October also said:

“Reddit is the sixth most searched word on Google in the US this year and so, those are people literally typing the word Reddit into Google. They know they are going to end up there. They are using in this case, Google to navigate Reddit.”

These adjustments have led to an influx of new, unregistered users exploring the platform.

With the launch of Reddit Answers, the company aims to boost direct engagement, reducing reliance on Google for traffic and encouraging more users to create accounts.

Currently available in English for iOS and desktop, Reddit Answers is set to expand to Android and additional languages, according to Serkan Piantino, Reddit's Vice President of Product.

The initiative reflects Reddit's broader vision to enhance user experience and attract a growing audience.