Reddit’s new AI-powered search, Reddit Answers, is trying to steal a little thunder from Google’s encyclopedic grip. It dishes up summaries and top thread links, powered by Google’s very own Gemini—oh, the irony. Beta for now, U.S.-only, and skipping Android vibes. While some cheer the time saved, others miss Reddit’s infamous chaos. Numbers are up, but the AI isn’t quite ChatGPT-level sharp. Will it outshine Google? The jury (and the memes) are still out—stick around for the goodies.
Every so often, a tech platform tries to “reinvent” the wheel—and this time, Reddit’s tossing its hat into the AI-powered search ring with Reddit Answers. That’s right: the place known for endless AMAs, niche memes, and heated pineapple-on-pizza debates just launched an AI search tool. And not just any tool—it’s partnering with Google Gemini and Vertex AI, as if regular old search just wasn’t enough.
Reddit dives into AI search with Reddit Answers, teaming up with Google Gemini and Vertex AI for smarter, faster thread-hunting.
Launched in beta in December 2024, Reddit Answers is currently doing its thing for U.S. users on web and iOS. Android folks? Sorry, you’ll have to keep scrolling for now. The pitch is simple: instead of digging through a gazillion posts, users type a question and—bam!—get a curated summary, complete with links to the juiciest threads. No more wading through r/AskReddit like Indiana Jones with allergies. In fact, Reddit Answers is currently only available in English, making it accessible for a specific but significant chunk of the platform’s community.
So, what’s really powering this? A cocktail of Google Gemini’s AI magic and Vertex AI muscle, all sprinkled over Reddit’s bottomless pit of user-generated wisdom (and, let’s be honest, a fair amount of bad advice). The feature uses AI-powered search to deliver more personalized and intuitive answers by leveraging natural language processing and machine learning. The goal: keep users glued to Reddit instead of, say, googling “Reddit best burrito recipe.” It’s also a clear attempt to take a swing at AI heavyweights like OpenAI’s ChatGPT—because who doesn’t love a good rivalry? Much like Google’s AI Overviews that have generated 1.5 billion monthly interactions, Reddit is betting on users’ preference for instant, digestible information.
- Curated answers, not chaos
- Summaries plus direct links
- Community-driven content
Feedback so far? Let’s call it “Reddit realness.” Some users love the quick insights; others say it’s not quite as sharp as other AI tools.
But with a reported 47% jump in daily active visitors (hello, 97.2 million users!) and a 14% bump in revenue per user, it’s hard to argue with the numbers—even if some think the feature is just a fancy way to avoid using Google.
Global expansion is on the horizon, but for now, the big question: will Reddit’s AI gamble actually outshine Google, or will users miss the chaos of old-school scrolling? As with all things Reddit, expect strong opinions, memes, and at least one conspiracy theory. Stay tuned.
