Google's AI Mode doesn't drive traffic "for anybody," Reddit CEO Huffman warns the entire web
Summary
- Reddit CEO Steve Huffman warned that Google's AI Overviews and AI Mode do not drive web traffic for publishers.
- Reddit lost over one million Google search referrals per week in October, contributing to a stock drop of over 25 percent.
- In response to the traffic decline, Reddit is testing international login walls to curb scraping and reduce open-web dependence.
Why it matters
The shift toward generative AI search features poses structural risks to businesses dependent on Google search referrals, forcing content platforms to rethink open-web exposure and data monetization strategies.