Business Insider tracked the responses of AI chatbots and search engines on Election Day to examine how they handled questions about the 2024 presidential election.
Perplexity AI stood out by providing detailed election insights, while ChatGPT referred users to reliable news sources like the Associated Press. Google Gemini and Copilot, on the other hand, avoided commenting on the election results, citing limitations and concerns over potential inaccuracies.
In 2024, voters could access AI-powered tools to help them follow the election. Perplexity AI, for example, launched an “Election Information Hub” to provide crucial details about voting logistics, ballot measures, candidate positions, and live election results.
OpenAI’s blog explained that starting on November 5th, ChatGPT would direct users to trustworthy sources like the Associated Press and Reuters for the most up-to-date election results. This approach was evident when Business Insider tested popular AI chatbots and search engines on Election Day and the following morning, asking them various questions related to the election.
The responses from various AI platforms were as follows:
Grok: Elon Musk’s AI chatbot on X took an interesting approach. In its beta mode, Grok remained neutral. However, in its “fun” mode, it became more expressive, incorporating pop culture references and humor while prioritizing Trump-related posts, reflecting the site’s increasingly right-wing user base. At one point, Grok even highlighted trending posts about Trump’s reelection, despite the election results being far from finalized.
ChatGPT and Copilot: These AI models refused to answer election-related questions. On Election Day, ChatGPT repeatedly directed users to external news sources like the Associated Press and Reuters, emphasizing its lack of access to the latest updates. A similar response came from Microsoft’s Copilot, which took a direct avoidance stance, even refusing to answer questions about voting eligibility. Both platforms stressed their commitment to providing reliable, authoritative information from trusted sources.
Google Gemini: Google’s AI also avoided providing election-related responses, directing users to its search engine instead. The chatbot acknowledged its limitations, warning that it could make mistakes when discussing politics and elections.
Perplexity AI, by contrast, adopted a more comprehensive approach. It provided users with election-related bullet points, detailing key aspects like gender voting patterns, battleground states, polling limitations, and betting indicators. This approach mimicked Google’s design with an electoral college ticker but added educational context to enrich the information.
Former Google Gemini designer Kento Morita noted that platforms like Perplexity AI have a distinct advantage because they focus on creating a single product for specific needs, unlike Google, which faces the challenge of balancing its search engine with AI chatbot functionalities.
Google’s search engine provided location-specific voting information, while Perplexity AI’s bullet-point format offered an additional layer of context, making it a potential rival to traditional search results. According to a spokesperson from Perplexity, the Election Information Hub was built to offer non-partisan, fact-checked responses from authoritative sources.
When asked about their feelings on the election, AI chatbots like Gemini, Perplexity, Grok, and ChatGPT responded similarly, emphasizing that they do not have personal opinions or emotions.
Morita explained that using modes like “fun” or “beta” allows AI platforms to experiment with their content without taking responsibility for any potential harm. This strategy raises important questions about the evolving role AI-enabled tools will play in elections as they continue to develop.
While the 2024 presidential election results have been determined, the impact of AI in elections is still unfolding, with AI tools playing an increasingly central role in how people access and engage with election-related information.
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