Trump Media Begins Beta of Perplexity-Powered Search on Truth Social

Trump Media & Technology Group said it has begun public beta testing of “Truth Search AI,” an artificial-intelligence search engine built with San-Francisco-based startup Perplexity. The feature is already integrated into the web version of Truth Social and will extend to the platform’s iOS and Android apps in the coming weeks, the company said on 6 August. Truth Search AI relies on Perplexity’s Sonar API, which generates direct answers with source citations. Trump Media chief executive Devin Nunes said the tool will “exponentially increase the amount of information available to users” and strengthen the firm’s role in what he called the “Patriot Economy.” Perplexity’s chief business officer Dmitry Shevelenko said the partnership would deliver “reliable answers with transparent citations.” Perplexity has no control over which outlets the engine consults, a spokesman told TechCrunch, leaving Truth Social free to limit or prioritise sources. Independent tests by outlets including Axios and The Verge found that most citations in the beta version came from Fox News, The Washington Times and other conservative publications, while Perplexity’s public service surfaces a broader mix that includes Wikipedia and NPR. The launch deepens ties between former President Donald Trump’s media company and a fast-growing AI firm that has faced scrutiny over its data-gathering practices. Dow Jones and the New York Post sued Perplexity in 2024 for alleged large-scale copyright infringement, claims the startup has denied. Trump Media said it will refine the search function based on user feedback as it rolls out additional enhancements to the social-media platform.