Reddit Launches AI Chatbot ‘Reddit Answers’

Hey there, tech aficionados! So, the buzz around the digital coffee machine is that Reddit is jumping on the AI bandwagon. That’s right, they’re rolling out their very own chatbot feature, cleverly named ‘Reddit Answers’. This nifty new tool lets visitors shoot their queries and pick up curated responses from across the Reddit universe. So, next time you’re pondering over life’s mysteries, you know where to head!

Now, Reddit isn’t just doing this for fun. They’re looking to give a run for their money to AI bigwigs like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Perplexity, which have become the go-to spots for users seeking snappy, spot-on answers. And not just that, they’re also aiming to give Google a friendly nudge, considering how often ‘reddit’ pops up in people’s search queries. Remember how Google eventually had to merge that feature into its search engine?

Reddit Answers aims to take the hassle out of your search experience. Instead of you playing detective across multiple threads and communities, it hands you exactly what you’re after right on the Reddit platform. Just pose your question and watch as the tool fetches you easy-to-digest, chatty responses drawn from relevant Reddit posts and communities.

Let’s say you’re lying awake at night, wondering ‘how to sleep better?’ Shoot this question at Reddit Answers, and voila! You receive a neatly wrapped summary of tips shared by fellow Redditors, served up in bullet points. It’s almost like having a chat with AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity. Plus, you can delve deeper into the topic by exploring the referenced threads at your leisure.

According to a recent blog post by Reddit, this new feature is all about enabling users to tap into the wealth of information, recommendations, and discussions sprawled across the platform. Since giants like Google and OpenAI are already siphoning off Reddit’s content for their AI features, it makes sense for Reddit to whip up its own in-house tool to deliver quick, relevant answers.

For now, this feature is only available to a select few users in the U.S. and only in English. But fret not, Reddit has plans to extend this service to more countries and languages in the future. The company shared with TechCrunch that Reddit Answers is powered by their own AI technology, with a little help from models by OpenAI and Google Cloud.

But wait, there’s more! Reddit Answers isn’t the only way Reddit is leveraging AI. Earlier this year, CEO Steve Huffman dropped hints about an AI-powered search result page. They are also using AI to fuel translation and offer insightful data to brands. So, looks like Reddit is all set to ride the AI wave!