Reddit starts testing AI-powered answers, users aren’t impressed

Reddit has started testing a feature that allows users to get answers via an AI-powered conversational interface. Some are questioning whether the tool is necessary.

The forum-based social media platform’s new feature will allow users to receive recommendations, discussions, and other information on Reddit via an AI-powered conversational interface.

Once a question is asked, curated summaries of relevant conversations and details across Reddit will appear, including links to related communities and posts.

Reddit Answers is initially being launched to a limited number of users in the US in English. Later, the social platform plans to expand it to other languages and regions.

According to the company’s blog post, AI-powered search is part of its longer-term vision to improve the search experience, making it “faster, smarter, and more relevant.”

However, many users on a Reddit forum are questioning whether such an improvement is necessary at all.

“Should we fix our already existing search functionality so that it actually works? Nah, let's just create a totally different entry point that uses "AI" garbage instead,” says one of the most upvoted comments.

Another user pointed out that Reddit's value is genuine human-to-human communication, something that turning to AI removes.

“Adding "Reddit" to search is one of the only ways to avoid AI slop nowadays, so you're killing the one real utility this site actually has,” a user said.

Recently, Reddit has taken X’s place as the fifth most popular social media platform in the UK. Reddit has grown by 47% since 2023 and has knocked LinkedIn and X off the top five UK social media platforms list.