Reddit Considers a Bold Move: Cutting Off Google's Access for AI Training

The article argues Reddit may be rethinking its $60 million-per-year AI licensing deal with Alphabet because letting Google and other chatbots train on Reddit content could weaken Reddit’s long-term traffic and ad revenue. While Google Search still drives users to Reddit, the trend is shifting toward AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini, which can answer questions without sending users to Reddit’s forums. The piece frames this as a strategic tradeoff: near-term licensing revenue versus protecting Reddit’s core business and brand. It suggests Reddit has leverage because its content is valuable to AI models, but also warns that declining search-driven traffic could become a larger risk if the deal is renewed unchanged. Overall, the article is bullish on Reddit’s stock in the long run, but highlights a bearish AI-disruption risk to its business model and user acquisition.