Reddit is testing AI-generated videos that read text posts aloud

Reddit is testing a new feature that uses AI to convert text posts to video and audio.

Rolling out from Monday in web browsers, the feature hopes to capitalise on the popularity of videos that read Reddit posts aloud. The AI-generated videos will expand to iOS and Android on Tuesday.

Though currently restricted to a few manually selected English-language posts in designated subreddits, Reddit plans to eventually broaden the trial further.

"The experiment uses AI to create new audio and video formats and bring real human conversations to life, including multi-voice text-to-speech, captions, and visual template," a Reddit spokesperson said, confirming the test to Mashable. 

Fortunately, this test doesn't mean you'll be forced to ingest your favourite subreddits in video form. The original text posts and comments will still be available in their usual format, allowing you to choose whether to read or listen to the content.

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Posts with this new feature available will have a toggle appear above them, allowing users to switch between "Read" and "Play." While "Read" displays the Reddit post and comments as normal, switching to "Play" produces a video in a TikTok-style portrait orientation. An AI-generated voice reads out both the post and select comments, displaying the text and lighting up words like a karaoke video, while a note below the video states that it is a "Real conversation voiced by AI."

"We are testing whether these formats are useful and how Reddit can authentically scale these experiences, with the goal of understanding how different conversation formats can make Reddit more accessible and immersive in more moments," Reddit said in a statement. "Someone might want to listen to Reddit while exercising, walking, running errands, or watch written conversations come to life through video and audio."

This new AI-powered feature was previously mentioned during the company's Q2 earnings call in July, with CEO Steve Huffman noting the increasing popularity of videos and podcasts in which people read Reddit posts aloud. Though such clips are now common on video platforms like TikTok and YouTube, Reddit itself remains primarily text-based. Unsurprisingly, the social media platform now wants in on the action, aiming to use AI to cut out the middleman.

"[W]e're working on… just a video Reddit experience, so letting users not just watch video on Reddit, but listen to posts, background listen to posts," Huffman said during the earnings call. "We see folks doing this off platform. There's an emerging content type elsewhere in the internet of basically, a podcast where people read Reddit content. And so I think this version of like, listened to — or spoken — Reddit can be really engaging as well."

Reddit indicated an increased focus on video content in its Q2 shareholder letter, stating that it's working toward "reimagining how users and communities connect, share, and consume content through a modernized video experience." The company previously launched video comments in June, allowing users to record and upload short clips in response to posts. Reddit is also increasing the integration of AI into the platform, having expanded testing of its AI-powered moderation tools to all new subreddits earlier this month.

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