Reddit CEO Steve Huffman Blames Google’s AI Mode for Loss of Over One Million Weekly Search Referrals

Reddit’s shares fell more than 25 % after the company reported that it lost over one million Google search referrals per week in October, citing Google’s new AI Mode and AI Overviews as the cause. Huffman said AI Mode does not drive traffic to Reddit or to any other site, describing it as a fundamental shift in how Google operates. Reddit claims user demand for its platform has not changed, but Google has stopped sending users there. In response, Reddit is testing login walls outside the U.S. to curb scraping and reduce its dependence on the open web, while continuing data‑licensing talks with AI providers. The incident highlights a structural risk for any business that relies on Google for traffic.