OpenAI and Reddit are partnering up. The deal will see Reddit offering up its Data API for OpenAI’s use, “which provides real-time, structured, and unique content,” from the so-called front page of the internet. In other words, the company’s AI models will be trained on posts from Reddit users, according to a joint statement from both companies.
The deal also states that it will eventually integrate Reddit content right into ChatGPT or any other new products from the AI company. The idea is to help ChatGPT stay on top of current events by enabling “OpenAI’s AI tools to better understand and showcase Reddit content, especially on recent topics.”
What’s in it for Reddit?
We’re partnering with Reddit to bring its content to ChatGPT and new products: https://t.co/xHgBZ8ptOE
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 16, 2024
Reddit isn’t just handing out its API for a price. The statement also mentioned that AI-powered features are also headed Reddit’s way, for both mods and Redditors. “Reddit will be building on OpenAI’s platform of AI models to bring its powerful vision to life,” the companies said. It isn’t yet clear what those features will look like, or when they’ll come to fruition.
The ChatGPT-maker is also an official Reddit advertising partner now, meaning you’ll be seeing a whole lot more of ChatGPT’s ads on the platform. Unless you’re signed up to Reddit’s $6/m Premium tier, which offers an ad-free experience.
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Neither company has divulged any financial figures surrounding the deal. Considering Reddit’s recent stance on its API — which saw it charging developers for access and the subsequent shutdown of many third-party clients — we’re guessing it wasn’t chump change. Google recently struck up a very similar deal with Reddit that reportedly fell somewhere in the $60 million range, setting a precedent for what these deals usually go for.