Reddit Reviews uses AI to summarize user opinions on 10,000 products

How it works

Users can search for a product or category in the app's search bar, or tap a highlighted product name in a comment. A product screen then summarizes key conversations under a "what people are saying" heading. It also shows a visual breakdown of how many comments are positive, negative or mixed, and what people liked or disliked about the item.

Reddit gives the example of someone considering an espresso machine who wants to know how much counter space it takes or whether it suits beginners. Users can browse comments, filter them by topic, or jump to the original thread to ask questions or get advice. They can also move from a single product back to its full category to compare similar items.

The astroturfing risk

Turning casual research into a structured product may make Reddit a bigger target for astroturfing, where brands fake public support, a problem made worse by generative AI and bots. Reddit points to its rules, its latest measures against automated abuse and spam, and its community moderators as the tools for keeping reviews legitimate.

The company has tested the feature since February with U.S. users in Electronics, Video Games, and Health & Beauty, adding Home & Garden and Fashion & Apparel in September. Over time, Reddit plans to add more categories and expand beyond the U.S. The timing is deliberate: the rollout arrives just ahead of the holiday shopping season, when people do more online research before bigger purchases.