Reddit CEO Downplays AI Chatbots as Traffic Source, Highlights Google and Direct Access
Reddit CEO Steve Huffman emphasized during the Q3 2025 earnings call that AI chatbots are not a significant traffic driver for the platform. The primary sources remain Google Search and direct user access, which together account for nearly all of Reddit's traffic. "[Chatbots are] not a traffic driver today," Huffman stated, while expressing Optimism about ongoing partnerships with AI firms.
The company's relationship with large language model (LLM) builders has been contentious. In May 2024, Reddit restricted commercial use of its data through licensing requirements, simultaneously striking a deal with OpenAI for training data access. This MOVE underscores the platform's strategic valuation of its unique content ecosystem.