Reddit is introducing an AI-powered search tool named Reddit Answers, designed to make finding information on its platform more seamless. This new tool operates similarly to other AI-driven search products, generating concise and well-organized responses to user queries. It also provides direct links to the original sources of the information, ensuring transparency and traceability.
What sets Reddit Answers apart is its exclusive reliance on content sourced directly from Reddit. Unlike traditional search engines like Google, which aggregate information from various platforms, Reddit Answers offers a streamlined approach by pulling data only from Reddit itself. This move reflects Reddit’s ongoing efforts to centralize search activities on its platform. While Google remains one of the few major search engines that display recent Reddit results, Reddit Answers could provide an alternative, bypassing the need to leave the platform entirely. This aligns with Reddit’s broader strategy to enhance user engagement and reduce reliance on external search engines.
Initially, Reddit Answers will be available to a limited group of users in the United States, with English as the primary language. The rollout includes access on the web and iOS, excluding Old Reddit for now. According to Serkan Piantino, Reddit’s Vice President of Product, Android support is in development, and the tool is expected to expand to more languages and regions in the future.
Having tested a pre-release version of Reddit Answers, I found the tool promising, though my experience was somewhat limited. The interface includes a prominent search box for user queries and features suggested search topics to inspire exploration. Some examples of these suggested searches include “favorite Nintendo character of all time,” “best mystery novels of 2025,” and “tips for flying with a baby for the first time.”
When I selected the query about flying with a baby, Reddit Answers quickly generated a list of recommendations, presented in bullet points with hyperlinks. Clicking on these links opened a sidebar displaying the specific Reddit post where the information originated. This integration of summaries and direct access to posts is a notable improvement over traditional search methods. For instance, searching for the same query on Google produced a typical list of links without the concise summaries, making Reddit Answers appear more user-friendly and efficient in comparison.
However, the effectiveness of AI-generated summaries is debatable. While Reddit Answers aims to simplify the search process, AI tools can sometimes produce inaccurate or misleading information. Personally, I remain cautious about fully relying on AI summaries, preferring the detailed exploration that Google’s standard results offer. Despite this skepticism, Reddit Answers may appeal to users who value curated and direct insights from the Reddit community.
One of the standout features of Reddit Answers is its ability to reflect real-time activity on the platform. According to Reddit spokesperson Tim Rathschmidt, the tool can surface content posted on Reddit within minutes, providing timely responses to queries. In my testing, however, this feature showed mixed results. For example, when I asked, “who won yesterday’s NFL game?” on a Friday, the tool returned outdated information about a game from December 1st rather than the most recent Packers-Lions match on Thursday. This may be a sign of the product’s current developmental stage and potential quirks that need refinement.
From my experience, Reddit Answers is better suited for exploring broader, evergreen topics rather than serving as a real-time search engine. It functions well as a starting point for delving into general discussions and community-driven insights on Reddit. That said, it may not yet be compelling enough to replace my usual practice of using Google to search Reddit-specific topics.
Reddit Answers represents an intriguing addition to Reddit’s suite of tools, offering a new way to access the platform’s vast array of content. While it has potential as a convenient and engaging resource for certain types of searches, its current limitations suggest that it is not yet poised to become a comprehensive replacement for traditional search engines. However, as Reddit continues to refine the tool and expand its features, it could evolve into a significant asset for users seeking Reddit-centric information.