Reddit introduces AI ad tools to help brands tap authentic community insights and boost advertiser trust

Reddit Launches AI Tools to Transform Community Marketing

Reddit has introduced two AI-powered advertising tools at Cannes Lions 2025, aiming to help brands engage more authentically with its vibrant communities. These tools, under the Reddit Community Intelligence banner, tap into Reddit’s massive archive of over 22 billion posts and comments to provide marketers with real-time insights and community-driven content.

Real-Time Social Listening with Reddit Insights

The first tool, Reddit Insights, offers a social listening capability that delivers real-time data on trending topics and brand-related conversations. It transforms unstructured discussions into actionable intelligence, helping advertisers identify emerging trends and test campaign ideas quickly. Publicis Groupe is currently piloting this tool, using it to discover new audiences and track brand sentiment for clients like The Hershey Company and Comcast.

Enhancing Ads with Conversation Summary Add-ons

The second tool, Conversation Summary Add-ons, allows brands to feature positive user-generated content directly beneath their ads. Early users include Lucid Motors and Jackbox Games. This feature brings authentic community feedback to the forefront, boosting ad credibility and encouraging deeper engagement within Reddit’s diverse groups.

A Shift Toward Community-Centric Marketing

Reddit positions these tools as part of a shift to community marketing, where brands connect with engaged groups rather than isolated individuals. COO Jen Wong highlights that this AI layer guides users deeper into conversations while maintaining transparency by linking back to original posts.

“With Reddit Community Intelligence, we’re offering deep context, perspective, and the voice of real people at scale,” Wong said.

Industry Reaction: Innovation with a Focus on Respecting Subcultures

Experts see genuine potential in these tools if they help brands understand and respect Reddit's unique subcultures. Anton Reyniers, head of strategy at We Are Social Singapore, points out that Reddit is moving away from being just a traditional media buy to becoming a cultural intelligence source — a valuable asset many marketers have been seeking.

Amaury Treguer, co-founder of Bread Agency, emphasizes that Reddit Insights can speed up research by tapping directly into live consumer sentiment, surfacing themes and tensions faster than manual methods. Meanwhile, the Conversation Summary Add-ons put trust at the center of advertising by integrating authentic community commentary with ad creatives.

Market Impact and Future Outlook

Following the announcement, Reddit’s stock rose about 8%, reflecting investor confidence in its ad innovation. These tools arrive as the advertising landscape shifts toward AI-driven solutions amid economic uncertainty and changing consumer behaviors.

Reddit is currently a smaller player in social advertising but is gaining traction. According to Singular’s 2025 ROI Index, Reddit saw 47% year-over-year user growth and achieved its first profitable year. Its ads appear on 18 top performance lists, excelling particularly in gaming and fintech sectors. Organic visibility surged with a 1,328% increase in Google searches from July 2023 to April 2024.

In the APAC region, Reddit holds strong promise. About 60% of its user base is in APAC, with local subreddits like r/India, r/Singapore, and r/Philippines serving as hubs for community engagement.

Will These Tools Change How Marketers Use Reddit?

Reyniers suggests marketers will reconsider Reddit after experimenting with these tools, but warns that execution is key. If Reddit’s AI tools become just another blunt targeting method, they won’t last. However, if they enable relevant and respectful engagement with communities, they’ll gain traction.

Treguer adds that validating creative ideas using real conversations, then weaving those insights into campaigns, introduces agility and credibility. This approach could encourage many agencies to rethink their media mix and increase spending on Reddit.

For marketers interested in AI tools that enhance advertising strategies, exploring courses on AI-driven marketing might be valuable. Resources like Complete AI Training’s latest AI courses offer practical insights into applying AI in marketing.