Donald Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, has introduced a new artificial intelligence-powered search tool, known as Truth Search AI, which is generating concern due to the company’s control over its information sources. This search engine, built using technology from the San Francisco-based AI startup Perplexity, is designed to provide users with direct, accurate answers that include transparent citations. It is currently accessible through the web version of Truth Social, with plans for beta testing on iOS and Android apps to follow shortly.
According to Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the search feature aims to increase the availability of information on the platform by delivering context-rich answers. However, the company has acknowledged that it decides which websites and sources the AI can access, giving it the power to shape search results based on editorial preference. This selective approach to information retrieval has raised concerns about the potential for biased or filtered content that aligns with a specific political agenda.
Truth Search AI operates through Perplexity’s Sonar API, which is capable of gathering real-time data from a broad range of internet sources, even from sites that restrict access to Perplexity’s own data crawlers. Despite this capability, Perplexity’s representatives emphasized that the scope of the tool is entirely dictated by Truth Social. They clarified that the AI's function within this environment is equivalent to a company using the tool to search its internal documents or databases, with no external oversight from Perplexity regarding content access.
Tests conducted by Axios demonstrated a consistent reliance on right-leaning media outlets within the AI’s responses. For example, questions regarding the January 6 Capitol riot or Donald Trump’s impeachment predominantly sourced information from platforms such as Fox News, Fox Business, The Washington Times, and The Epoch Times. In contrast, Perplexity’s general-purpose search engine tends to draw from a wider array of news outlets, including sources like NPR, Politico, Wikipedia, and YouTube, reflecting a broader editorial spectrum.
Dmitry Shevelenko, Perplexity’s chief business officer, pointed out that the AI tool’s citation system allows users to verify and explore the origins of its answers. However, this transparency does not address the broader concern that a curated selection of sources might still present a narrow or slanted view of complex political topics.
The release of Truth Search AI comes during a time when Trump is actively pushing for artificial intelligence to remain ideologically neutral. In July, he signed an executive order aimed at eliminating what he described as bias in AI systems, criticizing frameworks like systemic racism and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) as harmful ideologies that skew AI-generated results.
This move by Truth Social to integrate AI mirrors similar strategies from other major tech platforms. For example, Elon Musk has introduced the Grok chatbot on X, and Meta has launched its own AI assistant across apps like Instagram and WhatsApp. However, the debut of Truth Search AI has sparked debate about the ethical implications of AI in managing and influencing information. While the tool has at times returned responses critical of Trump-era policies, the control over its information sources raises ongoing concerns about the potential for politically motivated manipulation and narrative control within AI-driven platforms.
