Reddit is testing a new artificial intelligence feature on a limited basis that could change the way text-heavy content on the platform is consumed. As part of the experiment carried out by the company, some posts are converted into video content in which the main post and selected comments are voiced by artificial intelligence. While the text voiced in the video is simultaneously highlighted, there is a statement below the content stating that the speech belongs to real users but that artificial intelligence is used in the voice-over. Users can thus watch the content in video form or listen to it in the background instead of reading a long Reddit thread. This option, which is different from Reddit’s traditional forum structure, aims to facilitate access to content, especially for people who are not accustomed to the text-based usage style of the platform.
One example of how the new format works was a post published eight years ago in the r/boardgames community. There are a total of 101 answers in this old thread asking about good games that adults can play while traveling. Reddit’s experimental system replaces the classic comment thread with a roughly three-minute video, with different AI voices sequentially reading selected replies. However, the text format has not been completely eliminated. Thanks to the “Read” and “Play” options at the top of the page, users can switch between reading the post and playing the prepared video. While this approach may make the content easier to follow, especially in long comment threads, it may also bring about problems such as artificial intelligence voices mispronouncing words or conveying comments out of context.
Reddit posts become listenable with artificial intelligence
This experiment by Reddit also coincides with the messages the company management has given recently about video and audio formats. In its last financial results letter sent to investors, the company stated that it was reconsidering the way users and communities connect, share and consume content on Reddit through a renewed video experience. CEO Steve Huffman also said at the meeting where the financial results were evaluated that they were working on a method that would allow users to listen to Reddit posts in the background. One of the points that Huffman drew attention to was that videos based on the voice-over of Reddit content had already turned into a separate type of content on the internet. There is a lot of content on YouTube, TikTok and similar platforms that convey Reddit posts, user stories and comments with artificial intelligence voices. Reddit is thus trying to bring this format of texts on its platform, used by third-party content creators, directly into its own user experience.
According to Huffman, a listenable or conversational version of Reddit could also be of interest to users. The usage area here is not limited to people who do not want to look at the screen; While traveling, doing other work, or following long comment threads, audio content can offer a more practical option. However, the structure of Reddit posts creates different problems than traditional podcasts or narrated videos. The order in which comments are selected, the extent to which the context of a discussion is preserved, and how ironic or humorous statements are conveyed by the AI voice can directly affect the accuracy of the resulting content. In addition, user names, special terms and expressions in different languages may also cause pronunciation problems in automatic voice-over systems.
Speaking to The Verge, Reddit spokesperson Rosa Kim stated that the feature is in its early stages and a limited experiment. With this test, the company is trying to understand whether users find these formats useful and how audio or video content can be presented in a way that preserves Reddit’s unique structure. The trial is being implemented on selected existing posts in the first phase and is planned to be expanded to more old posts over time. The experiment, which is available on the web, is expected to gradually reach iOS and Android applications as of Tuesday, August 18. Therefore, for now, the feature does not mean a general rollout where all posts on Reddit will be automatically converted to video or audio content.
The changes Reddit made on the video side are not limited to this artificial intelligence experiment. The platform also introduced the video responses feature earlier in the year. Thus, the company continues to add different content consumption options to the experience that is mainly shaped through links, text posts and comment threads. The strength of AI-voiced videos may be that they make it possible to follow long or complex titles without constantly looking at the screen. On the other hand, the context, comment order and users’ expressions that make up the value of discussions on Reddit can easily be lost in automatically prepared short content. Usage data from the limited test will determine whether Reddit rolls out the format on a larger scale and how it balances the text-based forum experience with audio-video content.
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