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By now we are familiar with AI developers licensing content from Reddit to train their models, but the mega-site has taken a step in the opposite direction by launching its own AI search tool, Reddit Answers.
An official blog post from the company detailed the test launch, envisioned to provide a new method to extract crucial information from Reddit’s plethora of communities.
The Reddit Answers function should produce a useful resource for users, with the conversational tool saving time to prevent searching through individual threads.
Reddit will be aiming to better compete against the big boys in AI models, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Perplexity.
If all goes to plan, the tool will particularly eat into Google’s traffic, when users would typically start their search terms with the keyword prefix “Reddit”. Think of it as cutting out the middleman.
Last week, the company voiced plans to expand beyond its heavily US-centric user base.
Question, meet Answers. 👋
Starting today, we’re rolling out a limited test in the U.S. of Reddit Answers—an AI-powered way to get the information, recommendations, and hot takes you only go to Reddit for. https://t.co/jPBdqEd2JL
— Reddit, Inc. (@Reddit) December 9, 2024
Real-time reactions not yet reliable
As stated in the blog announcement, “Once a question is asked, curated summaries of relevant conversations and details across Reddit will appear, including links to related communities and posts.”
The benefit of the direct source means you can then jump into the full conversation within the relevant community or delve deeper into the search, with the suggested follow-up questions provided by Answers.
The Verge reported Reddit Answers can react to real-time information within minutes, according to spokesperson Tim Rathschmidt. When that was put to the test, a check for the result of an NFL game played the previous day was not accurate, but that points to a tool firmly in the test stage and not something to deliver a verdict on, just yet.
Reddit is clearly testing the water and checking how compatible the AI search tool can be with its core content, but at this fledgling stage it won’t worry Google and co.
Reddit Answers is rolling out to a select number of users in the United States, with support limited to English for now, but there are plans for a wider launch in other markets.
Image credit: Via Midjourney
