Reddit CEO says the platform will thrive not on AI slop but by being a place for 'humans to talk to other humans'
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- Reddit CEO says the platform prioritizes human conversation over bot-driven content.
- Reddit is investing in verified profiles and labeling AI-generated content.
- Fourth-quarter earnings exceeded expectations, sending Reddit's stock up 5%.
Reddit is working hard to stay human in the AI era.
In the company's fourth-quarter earnings call, CEO Steve Huffman said that Reddit's success lies in being a place for authentic human conversation, not a platform flooded with bots.
"We're now operating in a fundamentally different internet, one shaped by opaque algorithms, generative content, and growing distrust," Huffman said on Thursday. "Reddit is the most human place on the internet in a world flooded with AI slop."
The CEO, who cofounded the social media company in 2005, added, "At the end of the day, Reddit is for humans to talk to other humans."
That's why the platform is investing in authenticity, Huffman said. The company has launched verified profiles and brands in the fourth quarter and plans to add "bot verification" and labelling as a next step.
"It doesn't mean we have to outlaw entirely," he said about AI use on the platform. "It just needs to be marked as what it is because there are times when it's helpful."
Reddit has rolled out several AI features since 2023, including AI-powered search results that summarize discussions and content translation. It also uses AI to improve content recommendations and for ad targeting.
The company reported fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday and beat analyst estimates for both revenue and profit. Revenue for the quarter rose 70% year on year to $726 million, while net income rose 255% to $252 million.
Reddit's stock rose 5% after hours on Thursday, but is down 34% so far this year, as part of the broader sell-off in software stocks.