Google AI research summaries will now quote Reddit

Google is updating its AI search features to make it easier for users to find information from sources they know and trust. One of the most notable changes introduces a “preview of views” from live sources like social media, Reddit, and other web forums, effectively connecting your search queries to online conversations on similar topics.

Google says this update aims to address “people who are increasingly looking for advice from others” when searching for information online. This will be relevant to anyone who has added “Reddit” to the end of their Google search terms to find experiences from real people rather than SEO-optimized web results. It also supports Claims made by Reddit CEO Steve Huffman Last year, “Anyone who uses Google at this point will end up on Reddit.”

By incorporating these features into its AI search tools, Google is trying to encourage more users to try them out instead of manually searching through traditional web results in Google Search. Google says it’s also adding additional context to these new AI response links, such as creator name, handle, or community name, to make it easier to quickly identify these conversation sources. These direct sources are presented as “expert advice” in AI-powered search results, and can direct users to specific niche forums and subforums they may want to explore further.

“For example, if you search for how to take great photos of the northern lights, you might see quotes from a photography forum recommending exposure time, along with clickable links — displaying the name of the specific community — so you can jump to the full conversation,” Google said in its announcement.

Google is also adding more links to useful websites alongside relevant text in AI responses. They are intended to be relevant to the user’s query, but not necessarily the answer they are looking for, such as linking users to blogs about tour guides and training suggestions when searching for information about cycling trails. Another change adds suggestions for related topics to the end of AI responses to encourage users to explore more about the topic they are searching for. For example, if users search for how cities expand green spaces, Google may now also show recommended reports and case studies on successful efforts in major cities along with a summary of results.

Finally, Google is also making it easier to find specific sources with a new feature that highlights links from your AI-mode news subscriptions and AI reviews, at least for publishers that support subscription linking. This means that your trusted sources of information must stand out more in the face of the deluge.