Google Confirms Gemini Powers Reddit’s AI Search Tool, Reddit Answers

Google has officially verified that Reddit’s internal AI-driven search tool, Reddit Answers, utilizes its Gemini artificial intelligence model. In contrast to previous reports that implied otherwise, a Google representative informed Mashable that Reddit Answers had been assimilated with Gemini prior to the recent public announcement.

Reddit Answers, which was introduced in beta in December 2024, assists users in locating pertinent information, recommendations, and discussions throughout Reddit communities. During the Google Cloud Next event held on Wednesday, the tech giant provided further insights into how Gemini enriches the search functionality on Reddit. According to a press release, Gemini allows Reddit Answers to extract insights directly from Reddit discussions and communities.

This AI integration forms part of a larger partnership between Google and Reddit. Through this collaboration, Reddit has gained access to Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform, which includes the Gemini model. Consequently, Reddit Answers delivers a search experience akin to other Gemini-enabled tools, such as Google’s AI Overviews and AI Mode—except that Reddit Answers derives its replies straight from Reddit content.

Michael Clark, President of North America GTM at Google Cloud, highlighted the advantages of the integration: “The incorporation of Vertex AI Search into Reddit Answers means users can discover the information they need more swiftly and accurately, and easily navigate to the conversations that are important to them.”

The emergence of ChatGPT has disrupted the conventional search engine arena, prompting Google to accelerate its AI efforts. A recent survey by media company Future indicated that 27 percent of U.S. users now prefer AI tools like ChatGPT over Google Search. This trend may also be driven by increasing dissatisfaction with the quality of Google’s search results.

In response, Google has introduced several AI-driven features, including AI Overviews and AI Mode, and has signed licensing agreements to train its models on Reddit content. Following the announcement of the Reddit-Google collaboration, Reddit pages have become more prominent in Google Search results.

With Gemini now fueling Reddit Answers, the partnership between Google and Reddit continues to strengthen, heralding a new era of AI-enhanced search experiences.