Reddit CEO says Google AI Mode causes drop in search traffic

Reddit chief executive Steve Huffman stated during a third-quarter earnings call on October 29, 2026, that search traffic from Google has declined significantly. The Verge reported that search traffic to Reddit dropped by more than 1 million referrals on average per week in October. Huffman attributed part of the decline to how Google AI Mode and AI Overviews alter the search experience, stating that Google used to drive traffic but AI Mode does not. [1]

In response to shrinking referral numbers, CNBC Tech, Ars Technica, and Crypto Briefing reported that Reddit plans to test requiring all users to create official accounts to access the platform. Ars Technica reported that average daily active unique users increased 12 percent year over year in the third quarter. Huffman noted that logged-in users and mobile app users are the primary focus of the platform because search referrals have become unreliable. [2][3][9]

Concurrently, Google is expanding advertising inside its AI Mode search tools. Engadget, 9to5Google, Android Police, and Android Authority reported that Google is bringing ads to AI Mode across multiple international markets, including Australia, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. 9to5Google noted that Google acknowledged lower monetization from its AI search features compared to traditional search results. [4][5][6][7]

AI Mode is an experimental feature within Google Search that uses the Gemini model to provide comprehensive responses to complex queries. The system supports text, image, and voice inputs, and requires users to be signed in to utilize specific capabilities like image generation. [10]

Ars Technica reported that Reddit has already been testing a desktop login requirement since at least August. CNBC Tech reported that while Reddit beat earnings expectations for the third quarter, the company provided weak sales guidance for the fourth quarter, causing its stock price to drop. [2][3]