AI summaries you’ll actually use
Matt V
December 10, 2024
Reddit is testing a new AI feature called Reddit Answers.
This tool helps users quickly find information by summarising posts and threads on the platform.
Users can ask questions and get clear, concise answers directly from Reddit communities.
It positions Reddit as a competitor to AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Perplexity.
Reddit Answers also challenges Google, where many users already add "Reddit" to their searches to find detailed, community-based responses.
With this feature, Reddit aims to keep users on its platform instead of redirecting them elsewhere.
It’s currently being tested with a limited group of users in the U.S., with plans to expand globally and add more languages.
How Reddit Answers works:
Users ask a question, and the tool provides a summary from related Reddit threads.
Inline snippets highlight key responses for quick reading.
Links to original threads allow deeper exploration of the conversations.
Suggested follow-up questions help refine or expand the search.
For example, asking, "What are the best tips for better sleep?" generates a brief summary of advice from Reddit users, with links to explore the threads further.
This feature uses a mix of Reddit’s own AI technology and tools from OpenAI and Google Cloud.
By building this in-house tool, Reddit ensures its content is used to improve the experience directly on its platform.
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Reddit is already a key source of data for AI tools and search engines like Google.
With Reddit Answers, users can get what they need without leaving the site.
This aligns with Reddit’s plan to make searching smarter, faster, and more relevant.
The company is also adding other AI-powered features, such as better search results, translation tools, and insights for brands.
These updates are part of Reddit’s efforts to use technology to enhance the platform for users and advertisers alike.
This might just stop me from googling 'Reddit' every five minutes.