Google's 'AI Mode' could be bad for Reddit
2025-05-25
Business Insider
The information displayed in the AIM should not be reported as representing the official views of the OECD or of its member countries.
Google launched AI Mode, a generative search feature using Gemini 2 to provide direct answers and bypass Reddit links, driving declines in traffic and ad revenue. Wells Fargo downgraded Reddit amid these risks. Reddit responded by debuting its own AI-powered "Reddit Answers" tool to retain users in the evolving AI search landscape.[AI generated]
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
The event involves AI systems explicitly (Google's AI Mode and Reddit's AI search tool) and discusses the potential indirect economic harm to Reddit from AI-driven changes in user behavior. However, no direct or indirect harm has yet occurred; the harm is plausible and potential, related to future business disruption. Therefore, this qualifies as an AI Hazard rather than an AI Incident. The article does not focus on responses or updates to past incidents, so it is not Complementary Information, nor is it unrelated to AI.[AI generated]