Trump's Truth Social Beta Tests AI Search Powered by Perplexity
Donald Trump’s media company, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), has officially commenced public beta testing of an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered search feature named “Truth Search AI” on its Truth Social platform. This strategic move, announced on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, marks a significant expansion for Truth Social, positioning it as a challenger to established search engines like Google by promising direct, contextually accurate answers with transparent citations.
The new “answer engine,” currently accessible on the web version of Truth Social, is powered by Perplexity, a San Francisco-based AI startup. Perplexity specializes in delivering concise, cited responses, a model that aligns with TMTG’s stated mission to “exponentially increase the amount of information available” to its users and counter perceived biases in mainstream search results. Devin Nunes, CEO of Trump Media, stated that the partnership with Perplexity will make Truth Social an “even more vital element in the Patriot Economy,” and the company plans to continuously refine the search function based on user feedback. Dmitry Shevelenko, Chief Business Officer at Perplexity, expressed excitement about bringing powerful AI to an audience with important questions, emphasizing Perplexity’s design to empower curiosity with reliable answers and transparent citations.
This integration places Truth Social among a growing number of social media platforms embracing generative AI, mirroring developments such as Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot on X and Meta’s AI tools across Instagram and WhatsApp. However, a key distinguishing feature of Truth Search AI is its customized sourcing. While the public version of Perplexity draws from a wide array of sources, the iteration deployed on Truth Social reportedly taps into a more narrowly defined set, with early tests indicating a tendency to prioritize conservative-leaning publishers such as Fox News and Epoch Times. Perplexity confirmed that Truth Social utilizes its Sonar API, a developer tool allowing clients to tailor the AI engine, including the ability to prioritize or restrict sources.
The rollout of Truth Search AI is not without its controversies. Perplexity itself has faced accusations from major publishers like the BBC, Dow Jones, and Forbes regarding alleged reproduction of content without proper permissions. Perplexity has countered these claims, asserting that such criticisms stem from a misunderstanding of how AI tools interact with public web content. Furthermore, the launch has sparked debate regarding its potential to reshape information access in polarized digital spaces and amplify misinformation, particularly in an election cycle where AI’s role in content generation is under scrutiny. Despite these concerns, some early tests have shown the tool delivering nuanced answers, even on topics such as U.S. economic policy and Trump-era tariffs, occasionally referencing critical insights like economic slowdowns.
Trump Media plans to extend the public beta testing to iOS and Android applications in the near future, indicating a broader push to enhance user experience and accessibility across its platform. This initiative also aligns with President Trump’s broader focus on AI in his administration, including an executive order aimed at removing obstacles to American AI leadership.