Reddit's AI-driven Search Function May Eliminate a Significant Role for Google's Services
Reddit is currently the primary spot where Google Search and its AI push users for their trivial inquiries. Now, Reddit is planning to eliminate the middleman by transforming all posts into a question-and-answer format with AI-summarized answers, derived from Reddit posts and discussions. Is it reliable to believe everything stated on Reddit? Let's put that to the test.
The social news site's brief announcement outlines how its new Reddit Answers system will function. Users input a text prompt into a search box, and the AI returns summarized answers based on Reddit posts and conversations. These relevant discussions are then linked at the bottom of the page for further exploration. According to Reddit, this feature will "empower communities and provide human perspectives to everyone," following its passage through the AI filter.
This strategy mirrors the approach of both Google and Bing when it comes to their AI-powered search. However, Reddit uniquely relies on its own posts for content, which raises concerns about the questionable information you may encounter in various forums, potentially leading to peculiar and incorrect results.
Reddit does not evaluate the quality of posts or posters in terms of accuracy or writing skills. Instead, it focuses solely on a post's upvotes and a user's standing within a specific subreddit. In an email to Gizmodo, a Reddit spokesperson confirmed that Reddit Answers will prioritize answers found at the top of search results and comments from posts. Upvotes are classified as "one of the key mechanisms." The AI aims to surface balanced answers, showcasing various viewpoints based on the question at hand.
© Gif: Reddit
For instance, Reddit released a GIF addressing the question, "What are some tips for better sleep?" The AI-generated response provided common advice such as establishing a bedtime routine and minimizing screen time before sleep. It also suggested consuming sleep-promoting supplements like tart cherry juice.
However, Reddit Answers may not deliver as helpful responses for more contentious topics. Google's AI-powered search often fails to provide AI summaries for multiple political questions, instead relying on traditional search ranking algorithms that consider the information's accuracy (albeit with diminished results over time). On the other hand, Reddit places significant emphasis on engagement as a crucial metric.
This tool is currently limited to a select group of Reddit users in the U.S., but the site intends to expand its reach to additional languages and locations in the future. Users can compare the tool to Google Search or explore The Washington Post's new "Ask the Post AI," which pledges to conclude AI answers based on user queries using the Post's past reporting.
Following a short period, the Post's AI will reply to questions about Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, prompting the Post to abandon plans for a 2024 presidential endorsement and causing a mass exodus of subscribers.
The Post's AI adopts a dry, journalistic tone. If you pose a question about the ongoing genocide against Palestinians, it will relay Amnesty International's recent report on Israel's activities in Gaza, along with the Israeli government's response. It also provides context about the conflict, which has resulted in the deaths of over 44,000 Palestinians and the displacement of nearly 90% of the population. As with excessive journalistic writing, the passive voice can hinder the effective expression of the impact and cause-and-effect relationship between Israel's ground war against a civilian population.
Though it performs as a forum, Reddit now faces the responsibility of managing information on its platform, especially as its AI collects and reformats it for seamless consumption.
The integration of artificial-intelligence in Reddit's new feature, Reddit Answers, is expected to revolutionize the way users seek information. This tech-driven system will summarize answers based on Reddit posts and discussions, potentially providing diverse perspectives for various queries.
As the technology advances, artificial-intelligence could potentially address even more complex issues, ensuring that Reddit remains a reliable source for a wide range of topics in the future.
