Reddit is testing a new feature that uses artificial intelligence (Reddit AI) to turn text posts into podcasts and short videos, fundamentally changing the way users consume content on the platform. The new feature uses AI voices to read the text of the post and selected comments, creating a short video with the text highlighted. Each such video will appear under the label “Real conversation voiced by AI”, ensuring transparency for users.
This experiment isn’t a coincidence — instead, it’s part of Reddit to expand beyond the traditional text-based model and compete with platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts , and Instagram Reels. CEO Steve Huffman had already hinted at this direction on a recent conference call with investors, saying that the company is working on a way to let users listen to posts in the background. He noted that there’s already an entire ecosystem of creators reproducing Reddit in video format with AI voices, and suggested that an “audio” version of Reddit could be hugely appealing.
A prime example of the new feature is an old post on r/boardgames (from eight years ago), which had garnered 101 responses to a question about good board games for adults traveling. Instead of the usual thread, the post now features a three-minute video with AI voices reading the answers. Users can still access the post in text format via a toggle with the options “Read” or “Play” for the video, indicating that Reddit isn’t replacing text but adding a parallel layer of presentation.
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How Reddit AI podcasts and videos work
The technology behind Reddit AI podcasts is relatively simple in concept, but complex in execution. The system takes a post and some of its most representative comments, converts them into speech using text-to-speech AI , and creates a video in which the text is highlighted as it’s read. The result is reminiscent of the popular TikTok videos that use AI voices to narrate stories from Reddit — only now it’s done directly from the platform itself. According to spokesperson Rosa Kim, the experiment started on the web and will expand to iOS and Android.
Rosa Kim said: “This is an early, limited experiment to understand whether users find these formats useful and how we can deliver them in a way that feels authentic to Reddit.” The experiment will start with “selected existing posts” and expand to more over time. It’s worth noting that Reddit isn’t creating new content from scratch — instead, it’s using existing community discussions in a more digestible form.
One of the potential downsides of the new feature is the possibility of the AI mispronouncing names or rendering references incorrectly . Also, compressing a long discussion into a short video can lose nuance, humor, or important context that makes Reddit discussions unique. However, for users who are unfamiliar with forums or who prefer to passively consume content, this feature could prove extremely useful.
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Reddit AI and competitive strategy in the podcast era
Reddit’s move to introduce AI podcasts and videos isn’t just a technological innovation — it’s also a defensive strategy. For years, thousands of content creators on TikTok , YouTube , and elsewhere have built entire channels based on AI voices reading Reddit posts , often over unrelated video. These creators are extracting value from Reddit’s community content without giving anything back to the platform. With the new feature, Reddit is essentially taking back control of this form of content consumption.
The company had already taken steps in this direction earlier this year, with the introduction of video replies in June. According to data, the feature already accounts for more than 10% of video posts on the platform — an impressive number that shows that users are eager to interact with richer media within comment threads. The success of that feature likely encouraged the Reddit team to move forward with its more ambitious experiment in AI podcasts.
In the broader market context, this move reflects a broader trend: platforms are increasingly investing in AI text-to-speech and automated content “repackaging” to improve engagement, accessibility and time spent in the app. The market for AI voice and automated content creation is growing rapidly as the technology becomes cheaper and more accessible.
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According to The Verge, the experiment is already underway on the web, with an expansion to iOS and Android soon to follow. The company plans to start with select existing posts and gradually expand the experiment, suggesting that the approach is incremental rather than a complete platform change. The “Read” vs. “Play” model suggests that the coexistence of the two formats is, at least initially, the intended model.
Overall, the Reddit AI podcasts and video experiment represents one of the most interesting developments in the social platform space for 2026.If it proves successful, it could inspire similar moves from other text-based platforms, changing the way millions of users worldwide consume online conversations.
