In March, OpenAI also partnered with Reddit, enabling ChatGPT to learn from Reddit content in real time.

This push for licensing fees aligns Reddit with traditional media publishers who seek compensation for content utilized by generative AI.

Reddit CEO Steve Huffman has expressed concerns over the lack of control regarding how Reddit's data is used, leading to the decision to block companies that refuse to negotiate agreements.

Huffman accused Microsoft of using Reddit's data for AI training and summarizing content in Bing without proper notification, highlighting a breach of trust.

As a result of these tensions, recent updates to Reddit's Robots Exclusion Protocol have successfully prevented Bing from accessing Reddit data.

Microsoft's head of search acknowledged Reddit's decision to block Bing, suggesting that this move could impact competition in the search engine market.

Reddit has established agreements with companies like Google and OpenAI to receive payment for the use of its posts, while other tech firms like Microsoft have not engaged in similar negotiations.

Earlier this year, Reddit signed a significant $60 million deal with Google, allowing the tech giant exclusive access to recent Reddit discussions for AI training.

Huffman noted that Microsoft has not engaged in discussions about the use of Reddit's content in its AI searches, further complicating the relationship.

Huffman criticized the idea that all internet content is free for AI companies to use, referencing comments from Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman.

Huffman remarked that the value exchange between search engines and content providers is evolving, complicating traditional arrangements.

Amidst these challenges, Reddit is under pressure to find new revenue streams as it aims for profitability, especially following user protests against API changes.