BENZINGA — Reddit CEO Steve Huffman Says AI Learns From Us, Doesn’t Invent Knowledge: 'Can’t Have Artificial Intelligence Without Actual Intelligence'

Reddit CEO Steve Huffman says artificial intelligence depends entirely on human knowledge and can’t create information on its own. Speaking on the company’s second-quarter earnings call, he emphasized that AI learns from real people sharing authentic perspectives in communities like Reddit.

“In an automated world that depends on human knowledge, we view Reddit as one of the most important and differentiated data sources,” Huffman said. “You can’t have artificial intelligence without actual intelligence.” He argued that human-generated data will only grow in value as AI expands.

His comments come amid rising debate over AI’s impact on jobs. A new Microsoft report warns that roles such as writers, translators, and customer service agents face high disruption risk, while jobs requiring manual work or in-person presence are safer.

Economists and tech leaders remain split on whether AI will empower workers or replace them. Some warn that mass job losses could require new regulations, while others see AI as a productivity booster.

Reddit’s strong earnings added weight to Huffman’s message. The company reported $499.6 million in revenue, beating expectations, and earnings of 48 cents per share. Shares surged nearly 18% following the results.