Boko Haram and ISIL affiliates use AI for weapons advice

A University of Cambridge study has revealed that members of Boko Haram and its ISIL affiliates, including the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihad (JAS), are utilizing artificial intelligence to assist in militant operations.

Based on interviews with 27 former members, the research indicates that fighters have used various AI chatbots—including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, Meta AI, and DeepSeek—to obtain technical advice on weapons, explosives, and battlefield analysis. The study highlights that these groups have established dedicated AI units where members receive specialized training. In some instances, fighters were provided with laptops, paid subscriptions, and encryption tools to facilitate use within insurgent-controlled areas.

Researchers from Tech Against Terrorism also documented efforts on pro-ISIL online forums to “jailbreak” or bypass AI safety protocols to access restricted information. These findings align with previous warnings from United Nations officials regarding the growing capacity of extremist groups to exploit advanced AI technologies.