Are Forums Making a Comeback in 2026? Real Communities in the Age of AI

[salvaje]

Hello,


I’d like to start a small debate about the usefulness and future of forums in 2026.


With the rise of social media, Discord, Reddit, and similar platforms, forums seemed to decline for several years.


But now, with AI-generated content everywhere, it seems that users increasingly value content created by real people—authentic, human-generated content rather than AI-produced content.


For that reason, launching communities like forums, with real users and real content, could bring forums back to life.


What do you think?

 

[Mr Lucky]

But now, with AI-generated content everywhere, it seems that users increasingly value content created by real people—authentic, human-generated content rather than AI-produced content.

If only!

 

[Grump1!]

Depends how lazy and whether people are willing to learn how to use the forum people are.

AI is crap.

 

[80sDude]

I think it depends on the forum's subject.

 

[salvaje]

I think it depends on the forum's subject.

What topics do you think could spark interest?

 

[80sDude]

What topics do you think could spark interest?

I personally think besides video games topics that aren't popular on social media. Basically if you dont see groups or pages on facebook or too much activity on Redit you'll probably have a better chance.

 

[Mr Lucky]

What topics do you think could spark interest?

Any topic not covered on Facebook, Reddit.

I see I was beaten to that answer!

Basically any topic you can get very near the top of search results.

 

[nodle]

I think they will, I agree with your statements.

 

[JamesBrown]

Any topic not covered on Facebook, Reddit.

Facebook, Reddit, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok et al. Are all suffering to some extent from AI slop. And it's getting worse. You have AI Comments on AI content, how crazy is that!

People are not going to trust anything they see or read. Except maybe on a well moderated forum. I don't think there has been a better time to start a forum.

 

[alfaNova]

For that reason, launching communities like forums, with real users and real content, could bring forums back to life.

I actually see it differently. With AI becoming such a huge part of our daily routines and business workflows, I think it might actually kill off forums together wih social media rather than bring them back. Moving forward, why would people spend effort searching through forum threads when AI can give them exactly what they need instantly? I believe convenience will win out.

While AI is still improving, once developers fix issues like hallucinations, there will be little reason to use forums. The only exception might be for reading about specific human experiences or empathy, but for general information, I think forums will become obsolete.

It’s time for everyone to get ready to leave forums behind.

 

[PhineasD]

Moving forward, why would people spend effort searching through forum threads when AI can give them exactly what they need instantly? I believe convenience will win out.

Totally agree...

 

[MySiteGuy]

I actually see it differently. With AI becoming such a huge part of our daily routines and business workflows, I think it might actually kill off forums together wih social media rather than bring them back. Moving forward, why would people spend effort searching through forum threads when AI can give them exactly what they need instantly? I believe convenience will win out.

Why? Because AI is only as good as the data fed to it, and new issues, ideas, products, etc. can only be answered by humans who bring the new knowledge to the table. If a new model car comes out, and someone needs a repair procedure, how does AI know that?

 

[alfaNova]

Why? Because AI is only as good as the data fed to it, and new issues, ideas, products, etc. can only be answered by humans who bring the new knowledge to the table. If a new model car comes out, and someone needs a repair procedure, how does AI know that?

I think there is a misunderstanding about where 'new knowledge' comes from. Most forums are reactive, not creative. They don't generate new products, repair procedures, or technical specs—manufacturers and R&D labs do.

When a new car comes out, the manufacturer releases the data. AI can ingest that official data instantly. It doesn't need to wait for a forum to discuss it to 'learn' it. Forums are just an echo of the original source, and AI can simply go straight to the source.

 

[MySiteGuy]

I think there is a misunderstanding about where 'new knowledge' comes from. Most forums are reactive, not creative. They don't generate new products, repair procedures, or technical specs—manufacturers and R&D labs do.

It seems you're not a car guy (or many other hands on hobbies for that matter), or your idea of car guy is you can change spark plugs and oil.

Car manufacturers do not publish the books on the Internet that service technicians use. Why would they, when they license them to dealers and techs for a high price?

Furthermore, if a new model comes out, and someone asks, "which seats will swap into this new model", that's not something the manufacturers publish either. Or a question like "will headers from the previous gen engine fit". Or "how do I fabricate xyz for it?" And for almost every "official" repair procedure, someone has come up with a better way.

LLM's will always fail when they've reached the end of what they scooped up. They can't do things like crawling under a car, and having the experience to look at something and intuitively come up with a better way to do the job. Same with virtually every other hands-on product.

 

[Forsaken]

I think there is a misunderstanding about where 'new knowledge' comes from. Most forums are reactive, not creative. They don't generate new products, repair procedures, or technical specs—manufacturers and R&D labs do.

When a new car comes out, the manufacturer releases the data. AI can ingest that official data instantly. It doesn't need to wait for a forum to discuss it to 'learn' it. Forums are just an echo of the original source, and AI can simply go straight to the source.

I know plenty of original source communities, and run two that are at least one of the primary sources of information for their subjects. Many game forums, many programming forums, possibly most hobby forums, forums related to open source or home labs or very technical forums (network security).

The more niche your community becomes, the more likely you become a primary source .

 

[frm]

Furthermore, if a new model comes out, and someone asks, "which seats will swap into this new model", that's not something the manufacturers publish either.

Couldn't an LLM compare technical manuals across 100s of vehicles to know the bolt mount spacing specifications (and width, etc. for cabin fitting) to precisely tell you which OEM/aftermarket parts could be interchangeable before any one person discovers that?

 

[salvaje]

I think there is a misunderstanding about where 'new knowledge' comes from. Most forums are reactive, not creative. They don't generate new products, repair procedures, or technical specs—manufacturers and R&D labs do.

When a new car comes out, the manufacturer releases the data. AI can ingest that official data instantly. It doesn't need to wait for a forum to discuss it to 'learn' it. Forums are just an echo of the original source, and AI can simply go straight to the source.

So maybe a possible solution is to change the focus of forums and nourish them with creative content in the form of threads and topics…


Don’t you think?


I mean, turning the forum into a learning community where people are taught how to create, rather than just a community for debate or handling questions.