Podcast Summary: Bloomberg Talks – Reddit COO Jen Wong Talks Earnings, Advertising

Date: October 31, 2025
Host: Bloomberg/Interviewer
Guest: Jen Wong, COO (noted as Gen Wang in transcript) of Reddit

Episode Overview

This episode features an insightful interview with Reddit COO Jen Wong (referred to as Gen Wang in the transcript) focusing on Reddit’s impressive Q3 performance, rapid growth in its advertising business, international expansion, the transformative role of AI, and the company’s relationships with large language model (LLM) providers like OpenAI and Google. The discussion provides strategic context on Reddit’s market position, current priorities, and future growth opportunities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Advertising Growth & Platform Diversification

[00:37–01:29]

• Reddit’s active advertiser account grew 75% year-over-year in Q3.

• Investments in go-to-market strategy, acquisition, platform automation, and simplicity have driven user and advertiser growth.

• Enhanced performance, especially in the mid and lower sales funnel, appeals to mid-market and SMB advertisers.

• 9 out of 15 verticals saw over 50% year-over-year growth, underscoring business diversification and platform robustness.

  “Every advertiser can find success on our platform. So those investments that we've been made are really paying off.”
  — Jen Wong, [01:28]

2. International Expansion Opportunities

[01:29–02:34]

• Reddit’s user traffic: 55% international, 45% US.

• Significant “headroom” for growth outside the US, with an emphasis on underserved non-English markets.

• Strategy combines AI-enabled machine translation for accessibility and building vibrant, localized communities.

  “The process of doing that starts with machine translation, using AI to translate universal conversations so that somebody in France or Germany who operates in a non-English language can have access … All of that is opportunity for us and opportunities to build another Reddit for every language and culture.”
  — Jen Wong, [01:55]

3. The Strategic Role of AI and LLM Licensing

[02:34–03:48]

• AI is central to advertiser optimization and platform translation/localization.

• Recent licensing deals with OpenAI and Google fuel new revenue streams, but advertising remains Reddit’s core business and priority.

• Ads business continues to expand “60%+ year-over-year,” with room to onboard more advertisers, new ad formats, and geographies.

  “Our core business is advertising. It's a business model that has a lot of TAM... There are thousands more advertisers that can be on our platform in addition to more verticals and more geographies to come onto our ad platform. So we see a lot of opportunity there...”
  — Jen Wong, [03:15]

4. Evolving Relationship with LLM Providers & AI Applications

[03:48–04:43]

• The “chatbot” interface and LLM space is still in flux—rapidly evolving UI and utility.

• Reddit’s data is highly valued by AI developers; Reddit became the “topmost source domain in Q3” for LLM citation.

• These are not “partnerships” in the strict sense but mutually beneficial relationships.

• The company remains “watchful” and sees ongoing learning and future possibilities as this AI landscape matures.

  “We've certainly learned that our data is highly appreciated, it's highly used and cited. I think we were the topmost source domain in Q3. So I think, you know, we're watching that area very, very closely as it evolves.”
  — Jen Wong, [04:28]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Growth and Strategy

“I think a lot of the things that we're doing are working...those investments that we've been made are really paying off...”
— Jen Wong, [00:37–01:29]

On International Expansion

“…Every country that is a non-English country is just an opportunity to build another Reddit...opportunities to build another Reddit for every language and culture.”
— Jen Wong, [01:38–02:34]

On Core Business vs. Data Licensing

“Our core business is advertising...There are thousands more advertisers that can be on our platform in addition to more verticals and more geographies...”
— Jen Wong, [03:15]

On LLM Relationships

“The relationships that we have with [LLM companies] are not partnerships. The relationships are really healthy and we continue to learn a lot through these [deals]...We're watching that area very, very closely as it evolves.”
— Jen Wong, [03:57, 04:28]

Key Segments & Timestamps

• Reddit's Advertising Growth & Performance: [00:37–01:29]
• International Expansion & Localization with AI: [01:29–02:34]
• Strategic Role of AI and Focus on Ads Business: [02:34–03:48]
• LLM Licensing Relationships & Future of Chatbots: [03:48–04:43]

Takeaways

• Reddit’s ad business is experiencing remarkable growth, driven by strategic investment and platform optimization.
• International expansion is a core pillar, with AI-powered translation and local communities enabling a global Reddit presence.
• While AI/data licensing deals provide new revenue, advertising remains the main focus and growth lever for Reddit.
• AI strategies both enable platform growth (advertising, translation) and support new business (LLM data licensing).
• Reddit’s leadership is highly aware of, and responsive to, the evolving digital advertising and AI landscape.

For listeners interested in digital advertising trends, global expansion strategies for tech platforms, and the emerging influence of AI and LLMs on social media, this conversation with Jen Wong provides actionable insight and a glimpse into Reddit’s game plan for the future.