Reddit is focusing on becoming a "go-to search engine," leveraging its vast user-generated data and improving its native search capabilities. CEO Steve Huffman highlighted that hundreds of millions visit Reddit weekly for advice, with over 70 million users engaging with Reddit’s core search and 6 million using Reddit Answers, its AI search tool launched in December. The company plans to expand Reddit Answers globally, integrate it more deeply into the search experience, and make search a central feature across the platform.
This strategic emphasis on search may serve as a hedge against potential traffic loss from Google, which is increasingly providing AI-generated answers instead of traditional search results. Reddit has benefited from users appending "Reddit" to Google searches to find human-generated content, but improving its own search functionality is critical if Google traffic declines.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Reddit is investing heavily in AI, with CTO Chris Slowe reporting positive results from the Reddit Answers rollout. Huffman emphasized Reddit’s evolving role as a community-powered platform for human connection amid the changing internet landscape.
Reddit’s Search and AI Growth
- Core search users: 70 million weekly active unique users
- Reddit Answers users: 6 million weekly (up from 1 million earlier this year)
- Plans: Expand Reddit Answers globally, integrate AI search into core experience, make search central to Reddit
Strategic Importance
- Mitigates risk of losing Google-driven traffic
- Enhances user experience by providing direct, human-generated answers
- Reinforces Reddit’s position amid evolving internet and AI trends
Company Context
- Reddit recently turned 20 years old
- Heavy investment in AI technologies
- Focus on community-powered human connection as a core value
