A new report has raised fresh concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) by terrorist groups, revealing that Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have reportedly used AI-powered chatbots to improve their operational capabilities.
According to an investigation published by The New York Times, former insurgents disclosed that members of the extremist groups relied on AI tools—including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and DeepSeek—to seek information on battlefield tactics, weapons maintenance, and other military-related challenges.
The findings are based on research conducted by Antonia Juelich, a terrorism and technology researcher at the University of Cambridge, who interviewed former Boko Haram and ISWAP commanders.
One former Boko Haram commander recounted how the group turned to AI after a military operation failed because security forces had dug defensive trenches around a military base.
The insurgents reportedly asked AI systems how to modify their motorcycles to leap across the trenches. After providing details such as the motorcycle model and the distance required, the chatbot generated step-by-step suggestions. The group then altered the motorcycles for greater speed and acceleration before rehearsing the manoeuvre.
Another former ISWAP commander claimed the group also used AI to obtain information about improving explosive devices.
According to the report, experienced operatives sometimes bypassed AI safety measures by disguising dangerous requests as legitimate academic research or movie-production scenarios. Researchers also found that insurgents compared responses from different AI platforms to identify which systems revealed the most useful information.
In response to the report, OpenAI stated that such activities violate its usage policies and that safeguards are in place to prevent abuse. Google and Anthropic similarly said their AI models are designed to refuse requests that facilitate violence or other harmful activities.
Security experts caution that while artificial intelligence is unlikely to transform terrorism overnight, it could make extremist groups more efficient by accelerating access to technical knowledge, enhancing operational planning, and lowering the barriers to acquiring dangerous expertise.
The revelations have renewed calls for stronger AI safeguards, improved monitoring of emerging technologies, and greater international cooperation to prevent advanced digital tools from being exploited by violent extremist organizations.
TILEMA Analysis
Artificial intelligence is one of humanity's most transformative technologies, with enormous potential in healthcare, education, agriculture, finance, and scientific research. However, like many powerful innovations, it can also be abused by malicious actors.
The reported exploitation of AI by terrorist organizations highlights the growing importance of responsible AI development, robust safety mechanisms, and global collaboration to ensure these technologies serve humanity rather than threaten it.
As AI capabilities continue to evolve, governments, technology companies, researchers, and security agencies will face increasing pressure to balance innovation with public safety.