Google has introduced an artificial intelligence feature for its search engine named AI Mode, which is now available to users in the United States. The debut has raised concerns on Wall Street regarding its potential effects on traffic to discussion-focused platforms such as Reddit.
Shares of Reddit slid by roughly five percent early this week after analysts at Wells Fargo projected that the rise of AI-powered search could lead to fewer visits to Reddit, especially from people who find the site through Google results. These analysts suggest the disruption may not be temporary, pointing out that shifts in user behavior could persist as technology continues to evolve.
Reddit’s recent growth has come in part due to Google giving priority to its forum posts in search results, attracting a large number of readers looking for opinions rather than generic web content. Many of these so-called casual visitors come to Reddit without an account, relying on Google search to jump into discussions.
Reddit Responds to AI Mode and Shifts in Search Traffic
Executives at Reddit emphasized that their most devoted audience comes from logged-in users who go straight to the platform. Jen Wong, the company’s chief operating officer, described these users as the “bedrock” of Reddit’s revenue and engagement during an appearance at a technology and media event this March.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai called AI Mode a complete transformation of search, promising responses that feel more like a conversation rather than a list of links. The company says the feature will summarize information from across the internet, frequently pulling in knowledge from places like Google AI Mode impact on Reddit, but presenting that content directly in Google results, cutting down the need for users to click through to the source site.
In February, Reddit’s stock had already seen a larger drop after a previous change to Google’s search algorithm led to what CEO Steve Huffman called “volatility” in traffic. These recurring dips highlight how strongly Reddit search traffic trends are tied to search engine algorithms.
Reddit is not standing still in the face of these developments. The company is refining its own AI-powered tool, Reddit Answers, which helps users find summarized content drawn directly from posts on its platform.
Huffman, in a recent earnings call, remarked that major advances in artificial intelligence are bound to change search but voiced confidence that Reddit’s appeal will persist thanks to the site’s reputation for authentic and nuanced conversations. He acknowledged that while automated answers will serve certain needs, many internet users still seek the organic exchange and “messy, multiple viewpoints” unique to Reddit.
He concluded that just as Reddit offers an alternative to polished social media feeds, it will continue to provide a space where real community interaction stands apart from AI summaries.
