Reddit’s AI Search Boosts Answers by 5X
▼ Summary
– Reddit is prioritizing search, aiming to become a key destination for online answers, with over 70 million weekly users already using its on-platform search.
– Reddit Answers, an AI-powered feature, has grown to 6 million weekly users, a fivefold increase from the previous quarter.
– The company is focusing on three strategic areas: improving core product, expanding search presence, and growing internationally, while scaling back user economy initiatives.
– Reddit Answers leverages human discussions to generate responses and is being tested for deeper integration into the platform’s primary search experience.
– Reddit highlights its commercial value, noting 40% of posts show purchase intent, and expects Q3 revenue between $535 million and $545 million.
Reddit is making major strides in search functionality, leveraging AI to transform how users find answers on its platform. The company’s latest quarterly report highlights significant growth, with over 70 million people now using its on-platform search weekly. One standout feature, Reddit Answers, has seen explosive adoption, reaching 6 million weekly users, a fivefold increase from the previous quarter.
CEO Steve Huffman has identified search as a strategic priority, positioning Reddit as a go-to destination for authentic, human-generated insights. Unlike traditional search engines, the platform taps into its vast archive of discussions to deliver responses rooted in real conversations. This approach sets it apart in an era where AI-generated content is becoming ubiquitous.
The company is sharpening its focus on three core areas: refining its core product, expanding search capabilities, and growing internationally. As part of this shift, Reddit is scaling back efforts on its user economy initiatives to concentrate on these key objectives. Huffman emphasized the platform’s unique advantage, stating, “Reddit offers a depth of knowledge and diverse perspectives that simply can’t be replicated elsewhere.”
Currently available in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and India, Reddit Answers is being tested for deeper integration into the platform’s main search experience. The goal is to make discovering relevant discussions even more seamless for users. Early results suggest strong engagement, with the feature quickly gaining traction among those seeking reliable, community-driven insights.
Beyond user experience, Reddit’s search push has commercial implications. The company reports that 40% of its posts demonstrate purchase intent, making it a valuable space for product research. With posts already performing well in Google search results, enhanced internal tools could further solidify its role as a trusted resource for decision-making.
Looking ahead, Reddit anticipates Q3 revenue between $535 million and $545 million, with plans to continue refining its search offerings. As AI reshapes how information is accessed, the platform is betting that human perspectives will remain indispensable, a differentiator that could drive long-term growth.
(Source: Search Engine Land)
