Reddit CEO Warns Google AI Overviews Disrupt Search Traffic

Steve Huffman, CEO of Reddit, stated during the company's second-quarter earnings report on July 30, 2026, that Google's AI Overviews are creating uncertainty for search-derived referral traffic. He argued that AI-generated summaries cannot replace the value of traditional search results, noting that users continue to seek human perspectives and lived experiences.

While Reddit reported revenue and earnings that exceeded estimates, the company's stock fell 11% in extended trading. This decline was driven by investor concerns over how Google's AI integration impacts web traffic for external sites.

To mitigate these risks, Reddit is exploring options to convert web traffic into direct traffic to maximize long-term value. The company currently maintains data licensing partnerships with both Google and OpenAI to train their respective AI models.