# AI Search Engine Welcomes 2024 US Election with Live Tracker and Chatbot Info Center
As the 2024 US general election draws near, voters are actively seeking trustworthy, real-time details to navigate the intricacies of the electoral system. In response to this need, **Perplexity**, an AI-driven search engine, has unveiled a groundbreaking **election information center** that delivers live updates, voting guidelines, and interactive tools to assist users in staying well-informed. This initiative represents a notable advancement in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within the electoral realm, providing a distinctive combination of real-time data and chatbot-supported insights.
## A New Chapter in Election Information
On Friday, Perplexity rolled out its **election information center**, which aggregates data from reputable sources such as **The Associated Press** and **Democracy Works**. The center is tailored to offer users live updates on the 2024 US general election, set for **Tuesday, November 5, 2024**. The platform supplies real-time information on major races, which encompass presidential, senate, and house elections, at both state and national levels.
In a blog entry, Perplexity noted, “Beginning Tuesday, we will provide live updates on elections leveraging data from The Associated Press so you can stay updated on presidential, senate, and house races both at state and national levels.” The platform’s election hub utilizes APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) from the two agencies, guaranteeing that the information is precise and current.
### Interactive Features for Voters
As of Monday, the center features an array of interactive tools aimed at empowering voters. These include:
– **Voting Guidelines**: Details on what is required to vote across various states.
– **Polling Hours**: Information on when and where voters can submit their ballots.
– **Ballot Overviews**: Recaps of ballot propositions, candidates, policy stances, and endorsements.
Beyond these functionalities, users can interact with the platform’s chatbot to inquire about the election, akin to how they would engage with AI tools like **ChatGPT**. This enables voters to receive tailored responses to their questions, simplifying the navigation of the often daunting volume of election-related information.
*Screenshot of the Perplexity election tracker chart interface. Credit: Benj Edwards*
## A Bold Step in the AI Realm
Perplexity’s choice to engage with election information distinguishes it within the AI sector, where numerous competitors have tread cautiously with electoral data. Fears concerning the potential for misinformation have caused firms like **OpenAI**, **Google**, and **Anthropic** to refrain from responding to election inquiries directly. For example, OpenAI’s **ChatGPT Search** directs users to external references such as The Associated Press and Reuters for election updates, rather than attempting to supply direct responses.
Nevertheless, Perplexity has adopted a contrasting strategy by branding its platform as “an entry point for grasping key issues.” The election center aspires to give users a detailed perspective on the electoral process, from candidate platforms to real-time vote tallies.
### Accuracy Issues and AI Challenges
Despite its ambitious aspirations, Perplexity’s election hub faces its share of hurdles. Like other AI systems, Perplexity’s model is vulnerable to **confabulations**—situations in which the AI produces credible yet inaccurate information. This is especially troubling in the context of elections, where misinformation can have significant repercussions.
The platform’s **Voter Guide** service, which employs AI to summarize and analyze online information, is one domain where accuracy challenges may occur. While the data originates from trustworthy sources, the AI’s interpretation of this information may not always be spot-on. This has led to concerns regarding the potential for voters to receive misleading or erroneous information.
*A screenshot of the Perplexity voting guide, allowing follow-up inquiries about candidates. Credit: Benj Edwards*
## Official Alerts and AI Dependability
Perplexity’s venture into election information happens amidst escalating worries about the reliability of AI chatbots in this domain. On Friday, **CNBC** released a report emphasizing warnings from US government representatives regarding the dangers of using AI chatbots for voting-related queries. The office of **New York Attorney General Letitia James** examined various AI chatbots and discovered that they “often provided inaccurate information in response” to voting inquiries. The report cautioned that depending on AI chatbots instead of official governmental resources could result in voters losing out on their chance to vote effectively.
A **July 2024 study** by the **Center for Democracy and Technology** further highlighted
