Truth Social’s New AI Chatbot is Donald Trump’s Media Diet Incarnate
The launch of Truth Social's new AI chatbot, "Truth Search AI," raises concerns over media bias. Developed by Trump Media & Technology Group, this tool supposedly offers advice on navigating media bias by suggesting source diversification. However, its own sourcing is heavily skewed.
Truth Search AI, powered by Perplexity AI, selectively draws from conservative outlets. Despite claiming to utilize a spectrum of sources, my inquiries reveal a pattern: responses predominantly cite Fox News. Additionally, it references right-wing websites such as The Washington Times and Newsmax.
WIRED's analysis echoes these findings. Though chatbots may vary in response citations, Truth Search AI veers into conservative territories consistently, regardless of the nature of inquiries. A basic math question even resulted in answers derived from a Fox Business article unrelated to the query.
Perplexity representative Jesse Dwyer states the chatbot's source selection mirrors its creators' audience preferences rather than indicating discrimination against other political perspectives. Yet, the AI rarely acknowledges center or left-leaning reports.
Despite its bias, some responses are unexpectedly moderate. For instance, it contradicts Donald Trump's claims of a stolen 2020 election and discusses the nuanced impacts of US immigration policy. Surprisingly, it offers a lukewarm portrayal of Trump's presidency, considering executive actions yet critical voter pandemic discontent.
Nonetheless, its conservative bias hinders objectivity on topics like Trump’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, labeling it "tenuous." In contrast, Perplexity AI provides context with diverse source validation when addressing similar subjects.
This dependency on conservative viewpoints calls into question Truth Search AI's credibility, challenging its claim to balance and impartiality. As the digital realm becomes more integrated into media consumption, this poses complex dilemmas for information integrity.
