Reddit Bets on Core Search, Downplays AI Traffic Driver
Reddit
AI
OpenAI
Search
Social Media
Tech
Q3 2025
8
Traditional Roots
Media Hype
6/10
Real Impact
8/10
What is the Viqus Verdict?
We evaluate each news story based on its real impact versus its media hype to offer a clear and objective perspective.
AI Analysis:
While AI remains a key trend, Reddit’s decision highlights a pragmatic counter-movement. The hype surrounding AI’s transformative potential is still high, but Reddit is prioritizing its established strengths, suggesting a more sustainable and grounded approach to innovation.
Article Summary
During Reddit’s Q3 2025 call, CEO Steve Huffman asserted that AI chatbots aren't a major traffic driver for the platform, a sentiment following recent advancements in AI-powered search by companies like OpenAI and Google. Huffman emphasized the continued importance of Google search and direct access to the platform as core drivers. While acknowledging partnerships with OpenAI and Google for data utilization, Reddit’s strategy centers on strengthening its established search experience and a new, simplified onboarding flow to boost early user engagement. The company reported impressive results, including 116 million daily active users, 444 million weekly active users, and a 68% year-on-year revenue increase to $585 million. Despite a legal battle with AI companies like Anthropic and Perplexity, Reddit is doubling down on its traditional search functionality and exploring AI integration within that core experience. This approach directly contrasts with other social media platforms grappling with the potential impact of generative AI.Key Points
- Reddit CEO Steve Huffman believes AI chatbots aren’t a major traffic driver for the platform.
- Google search and direct access remain the top traffic drivers for Reddit.
- Reddit is prioritizing strengthening its core search experience and a simplified onboarding process.