Truth Social, the social media platform of Donald Trump, has introduced a new AI-powered search function that appears to prioritize conservative media outlets. The newly launched feature, Truth Search AI, is developed in collaboration with the startup Perplexity and is currently accessible through the web version of the platform. It is anticipated that public testing for iOS and Android applications will follow shortly.
Tests conducted indicated that all sources linked by Truth Search AI were from conservative outlets such as Fox News, Fox Business, The Washington Times, and The Federalist. The search feature predominantly brought up Fox-related articles, which raises questions about the breadth of the sources utilized by this AI-driven tool, given Trump Media’s stated goal to “end Big Tech’s assault on free speech by opening up the Internet.”
For instance, a query like “Are Trump’s tariffs improving the economy?” yielded five articles exclusively from Fox Business, without citing any alternative perspectives. Interestingly, while some summaries from the AI tool were critical of Trump’s policies, one response pointed out that “Current evidence indicates that Trump’s tariffs have not improved the overall U.S. economy and are associated with a net negative effect, though some specific sectors benefit.”
Devin Nunes, CEO of Truth Social, expressed confidence that this AI search feature will enhance the platform’s role within the “Patriot Economy.” The tool remains in beta and Nunes added, “We plan to robustly refine and expand our search function based on user feedback as we implement a wide range of additional enhancements to the platform.”
404 Media also highlighted bias during its testing of the search engine, reporting that Truth Search AI rapidly dismissed inquiries about potential links between Trump and Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking allegations, stating instead that Trump’s tariffs have “generally had a negative effect on economic growth and employment” in the United States.
Dmitry Shevelenko, chief business officer at Perplexity, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating that the company is thrilled to provide its AI capabilities to an audience that seeks credible answers, emphasizing Perplexity’s aim to offer “direct, reliable answers with transparent citations.”
