Google announced in May 2026 a set of updates to its AI Search features designed to surface firsthand perspectives from social media, Reddit, and other web forums directly within search results.
The most prominent change introduces what Google calls “a preview of perspectives,” which links search queries to relevant online conversations. These firsthand sources are labeled as “Expert Advice” in AI-powered results and can direct users to specific forums and subreddits. To help users quickly identify the origin of a result, Google is adding contextual details such as the creator’s name, handle, or community name alongside each link.
Google says the update responds to the fact that “people are increasingly seeking out advice from others” when searching online — a behavior reflected in the widespread habit of appending “Reddit” to search queries to find real-user experiences rather than SEO-optimized pages. Reddit CEO Steve Huffman noted last year that “just about anybody using Google at this point will end up on Reddit.”
Additional changes expand how AI responses connect users to further reading. Google is adding more inline links to relevant websites within AI responses — not necessarily direct answers, but related resources such as training guides when a user searches for cycling routes. AI responses will also now include suggested related topics at the end, pointing users toward reports, case studies, or broader subject areas tied to their original query.
A separate feature highlights links from a user’s news subscriptions within AI Mode and AI Overviews, provided the publisher supports subscription linking, making trusted sources more visible within results.
Taken together, the updates suggest Google is working to make its AI Search tools a more direct replacement for manual browsing habits, by folding community-driven content and personalized source preferences into its automated responses.
Source: The Verge