Perplexity, the AI-driven search engine, has unveiled a new Election Information Hub designed to help U.S. voters navigate the complexities of the upcoming general elections. Despite the known risk of AI inaccuracies, Perplexity is betting on AI’s potential to streamline and clarify critical voting details.
The hub, launched on Friday, aggregates data from The Associated Press (AP) and Democracy Works, two established non-partisan sources. It features live updates on presidential, Senate, and House races at both the state and national levels. The live tracking will go live on November 5, Election Day, with updates provided through AP’s data.
Inside Perplexity’s Election Information Hub
Beyond vote counts, the hub tackles essential voter queries, including polling locations, times, and registration requirements, all sourced from Democracy Works. AI-generated summaries on candidates, ballot measures, policy stances, and endorsements offer a quick grasp of election issues. Perplexity, however, acknowledges its reliance on accurate, fact-checked databases and states it has taken measures to prioritize trustworthy sources such as Ballotpedia.
The introduction of this election hub sets Perplexity apart from other major AI players, who are cautious about delivering AI-driven election insights. Competitors like OpenAI and Google have opted to direct election-related queries to established resources like The Associated Press and Reuters. Even Microsoft’s Copilot and Anthropic’s Claude refuse to engage with election result questions.
Challenges of Using AI for Elections
Despite the precautions, the risk of AI errors looms large. A Center for Democracy and Technology study highlighted that a third of responses from leading AI models, such as Claude and Google’s Gemini, contained inaccuracies when addressing election topics. Moreover, tests revealed even lower performance for non-native English speakers and those with accessibility needs.
During early tests, Perplexity’s AI summaries exposed some of the inherent risks. For instance, it failed to recognize that Robert F. Kennedy had exited the presidential race and offered incorrect summaries that mixed meme-like images with legitimate candidates, as reported by The Verge. Perplexity’s spokesperson, Sara Plotnick, confirmed the data partnerships with AP and Democracy Works, emphasizing the company’s ongoing efforts to address such errors and prioritize accuracy.
The project reflects a high-stakes experiment, aiming to strike a balance between leveraging AI for real-time election tracking and ensuring voter trust. Yet, as some glitches have demonstrated, AI’s reliability in high-stakes contexts remains under intense scrutiny.
