Trump to launch AI search engine powered by Perplexity: 5 key things to know

Trump’s Truth Social gets its own AI search engine
Donald Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, is now testing a new AI-powered search engine. The tech is being provided by Perplexity, a startup known for its smart AI-driven question-answering system. This new feature lets users search the web directly from the Truth Social browser, making it a more interactive platform for Trump's followers.

Perplexity’s AI brings answers with sources—but controversy too
Perplexity is known for delivering quick, clear answers with sources, similar to how ChatGPT or Google’s AI Overviews work. The company says it wants to fuel curiosity and provide transparency. However, it’s also been accused of plagiarism and copyright violations by big media houses like Forbes, New York Times, and Dow Jones. These outlets claim Perplexity uses content without permission.

Trump Media says it’s about fighting Big Tech’s control
According to Trump Media CEO Devin Nunes, this move is part of the company’s mission to fight against what it calls Big Tech’s censorship and bias. Trump Media wants to give users an alternative space where they feel their voices are heard—free from moderation practices used by platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.

The irony? Perplexity is backed by Big Tech money
While Trump’s platform claims to be a rebellion against Big Tech, the AI partner Perplexity is backed by some of the biggest names in tech, including Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, and former GitHub executives. This contradiction hasn’t gone unnoticed, raising questions about whether the alliance truly breaks from Silicon Valley or just repackages it.

Users test it—and the AI gives some diplomatic answers
When users tried asking tough questions—like whether Trump appears in Jeffrey Epstein’s files—the AI gave carefully worded responses, saying there’s no evidence directly linking Trump to Epstein’s crimes. On the U.S. economy, the AI acknowledged economic struggles, citing inflation and a slowdown. It also noted that recent tariff hikes have hurt growth more than helped.