Truth Social Launches AI Search Engine Powered by Perplexity
Truth Social, the social media platform founded by former President Donald Trump, has officially rolled out an artificial intelligence-powered search engine, “Truth Search AI,” in a public beta on its web version. The new feature, which aims to enhance content discoverability and information access for its user base, is powered by Perplexity, an AI startup known for its “Answer Engine” approach that delivers direct, concise answers with transparent citations. Plans are underway to extend the AI search functionality to Truth Social’s iOS and Android mobile applications in the near future.
This strategic integration positions Truth Social as the latest social media platform to embrace generative AI capabilities, following in the footsteps of platforms like X (formerly Twitter) with its Grok chatbot and Meta’s AI tools across Instagram and WhatsApp. The move is widely seen as Truth Social’s direct challenge to the dominance of established tech giants such as Google in the digital information landscape.
A notable aspect of Truth Search AI is Truth Social’s complete control over the information sources the AI utilizes. While Perplexity’s public search engine draws from a broad array of sources, the version deployed on Truth Social is reported to curate its information from a more limited set, frequently citing conservative-leaning media outlets like Fox News and Epoch Times. Perplexity, for its part, has clarified that its Sonar API, which powers the search engine, allows clients full autonomy over source configuration, stating it has no visibility or control over Truth Social’s editorial decisions regarding content limits or curation. This approach aligns with President Trump’s stated objectives to address perceived AI bias and regulate digital information control. Devin Nunes, CEO of Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), emphasized that the partnership with Perplexity will cement Truth Social’s role as a “vital element in the Patriot Economy.”
Perplexity, a company backed by prominent investors including Jeff Bezos and Nvidia, specializes in providing contextually relevant answers by synthesizing information from various online sources, complete with citations. This differs from traditional search engines that typically present a list of links, instead offering a more direct, conversational experience. However, Perplexity itself has faced scrutiny, including accusations of copyright infringement, plagiarism, and employing “stealth and undeclared crawlers” to bypass website restrictions.
The introduction of Truth Search AI marks a significant development for Truth Social, potentially enhancing user engagement and content discovery on the platform. As the AI-powered feature becomes more widely available, user feedback and ongoing regulatory discussions surrounding AI bias and editorial independence are expected to shape its future evolution.