AI search startups are blowing up

AI search startups are blowing up

Yesterday’s big news was Google’s plan to blow up its traditional Search in favor of an AI-powered experience — but Google isn’t the only company planning for the next generation of discoverability. This morning, Bloomberg has news of the Andreessen-backed Exa Labs, which has raised $250 million against a $2.5 billion valuation to go after…

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People are finally using Reddit’s search

People are finally using Reddit’s search

After being harried by complaints that its search function needed improving, Reddit has in the last few years invested in its search engine, and has even added AI features to help its users find what they’re looking for. It appears that investment is finally paying off: The company has seen a 30% year-on-year jump in…

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Gushwork bets on AI search for customer leads — and early results are emerging

Gushwork bets on AI search for customer leads — and early results are emerging

As AI-powered search tools reshape how businesses are discovered online, India-founded startup Gushwork is helping companies capture customers from platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity — with early traction that is beginning to draw investor support. The two-year-old startup said Thursday it had raised $9 million in a seed round led by Susquehanna International…

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Reddit CEO says chatbots are not a traffic driver

Reddit CEO says chatbots are not a traffic driver

Reddit CEO Steve Huffman said AI chatbots aren’t a major traffic driver for the social platform despite companies like OpenAI and Google having seen progress in people using AI for search. During Reddit’s Q3 2025 call, the exec noted that Google search and direct access continue to be its top traffic drivers. “[Chatbots are] not…

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