discuss Reddit’s new AI search tool helps you find Reddit answers without Google

[Cpvr]

Reddit’s new AI search tool helps you find Reddit answers without Google.

Reddit is introducing a new AI-driven search feature called Reddit Answers, designed to make finding information on the platform more straightforward. Unlike traditional search tools, Reddit Answers provides well-structured responses along with links to its sources, all pulled directly from Reddit posts.





What sets Reddit Answers apart is its exclusive focus on Reddit’s vast trove of user-generated content. This could make it a direct competitor to Google for Reddit-related queries, especially as Reddit has been limiting where its content can be accessed outside the platform. Currently, Google is one of the few major search engines that surfaces recent Reddit results, but Reddit clearly prefers users to search natively—and Reddit Answers might be a compelling reason to do so.





The feature is rolling out gradually to a limited group of U.S. users in English, accessible on the web (excluding Old Reddit) and iOS. According to Serkan Piantino, Reddit’s VP of Product, an Android version is also in the works. Reddit plans to expand the tool to other languages and regions in the future.





In testing the feature, Reddit Answers presents a search box and suggested queries like “best mystery novels of 2025” or “tips for flying with a baby for the first time.” Clicking on a query generates a concise response with bullet points and hyperlinks. Users can view the source post by clicking the provided links, which opens a sidebar showing the original Reddit thread.





Compared to a Google site search for the same query, Reddit Answers offers more immediate insights, while Google presents the familiar long list of links. However, AI summaries like those provided by Reddit Answers can sometimes be error-prone, which might make some users prefer Google’s approach for exploring a broader set of posts manually.





Reddit Answers also aims to deliver timely results. According to Reddit spokesperson Tim Rathschmidt, it can surface recent discussions on the platform within minutes. In practice, though, its performance has been hit-or-miss. For instance, when asked “who won yesterday’s NFL game,” the tool retrieved outdated information instead of pulling up the latest results.





At this stage, Reddit Answers seems more effective for exploring broader topics than for real-time searches. While it shows promise as a tool to navigate Reddit’s content more easily, whether it’s enough to shift user habits remains to be seen.

Source: https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/9/24314445/reddit-answers-ai-powered-search-tool

 

[Harsh World]

This is a great addition to Reddit in order to find answers on their platform, but we have to keep in mind it is all user generated content.

Google pulls its AI answers from a variety of sources, some reliable, and some not so much.

But, I'd prefer to get a mix of sources over just user generated content answers to cherry-pick what is the answer.

It might work well for Reddit because some UGC is so niche that you can only find a "reliable" answer on a sub (reliable in quotes as it might be the right answer, but weigh heavily on anecdotal experience of another user).

 

[Reelz]

Reddit is a website where I get many ideas and lots of information from and their new search tool called Reddit Answers seems to be a wonderful feature. I like that it gives an organized response which I think will resonate with the audience.

 

[Heatman]

I've been using Reddit for as long as I can remember. It's one social site that I've used almost throughout the years I've used Facebook and I enjoy it on the site with so many subs to engage in what interests me. This new feature they added will definitely improve users experience on Reddit.

 

[Unvarnished]

I've been using Reddit for as long as I can remember. It's one social site that I've used almost throughout the years I've used Facebook and I enjoy it on the site with so many subs to engage in what interests me. This new feature they added will definitely improve users experience on Reddit.

I agree with you. It seems I noticed that as well. It enable users to locate answers in the site with relative ease. I am a long time Redditor too and I appreciate the gradual improvements to the site. This feature is great and this will just make Reddit even better to use.

 

[Yama]

Are Reddit answers really reliable? I do not think think we should trust user generated content fully. We need expert written content. That's why Google is more useful than these AI searches

 

[Heatman]

Are Reddit answers really reliable? I do not think think we should trust user generated content fully. We need expert written content. That's why Google is more useful than these AI searches

Where do you think AI gets it's contents from? The thin air? No! It's from Google, other search engines and articles across several websites online. The only you're required to do is to verify the information you generated using AI to make sure it's correct.

 

[Cpvr]

Are Reddit answers really reliable? I do not think think we should trust user generated content fully. We need expert written content. That's why Google is more useful than these AI searches

They may or not be reliable since the answers are coming directly from Reddit’s users. There may be one day down the line where Reddit implements other sources of information, but then they’ll be directly competing against Google and the likes.

I think reddit implemented this feature as a way to keep more users on their platform instead of relying on Google so much for traffic.

 

[Yama]

They may or not be reliable since the answers are coming directly from Reddit’s users. There may be one day down the line where Reddit implements other sources of information, but then they’ll be directly competing against Google and the likes.

I think reddit implemented this feature as a way to keep more users on their platform instead of relying on Google so much for traffic.

I know a lot of people rely on user generated content for information because they believe big media houses are evil and government is always lying. That's why fake news distribute faster than the accurate information.

 

[Heatman]

They may or not be reliable since the answers are coming directly from Reddit’s users. There may be one day down the line where Reddit implements other sources of information, but then they’ll be directly competing against Google and the likes.

I think reddit implemented this feature as a way to keep more users on their platform instead of relying on Google so much for traffic.

It's just like Grok makes use of Twitter/X userbase to generate information too. The whole social media platforms are now rigged to work with AI and it's only going to keep expending.