Reddit CEO Steve Huffman revealed that AI chatbots are not significant traffic drivers for the platform, despite advancements in AI utilization for search purposes by companies like OpenAI and Google. Huffman emphasized that Google search and direct access remain the primary sources of traffic for Reddit. He stated during the Q3 2025 earnings call that chatbots do not currently play a major role in generating traffic. Huffman also mentioned the valuable insights gained from Reddit’s data and collaborations with partner companies, expressing optimism about future endeavors.
When asked about traffic distribution, Huffman indicated that approximately half comes from Google, with the rest from direct sources. Reddit’s stance on data privacy led to policy changes, including restrictions on commercial data use without a license. Collaborations with AI entities like OpenAI for data utilization contrast with legal disputes involving companies such as Anthropic and Perplexity.
Despite these dynamics, Reddit reported robust financial performance, with $585 million in revenue, a 68% increase year-on-year. The platform boasts 116 million daily active unique users and 444 million weekly active unique users, with significant international user growth. Huffman underscored ongoing investments to enhance the search experience, with Reddit handling 20% of searches.
Source: TechCrunch