A report citing research described in The New York Times says Boko Haram is increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support its attacks in Nigeria. The account is based on research by Antonia Juelich of the University of Cambridge, who interviewed former Boko Haram members in Nigeria over the past year. Former commanders describe using AI-powered chatbots to overcome practical obstacles, including guidance on modifying motorcycles for assaults on military bases by jumping defensive trenches, as well as rehearsing the manoeuvre before attacks.
The reporting also says fighters sought AI assistance beyond battlefield tactics, including information related to designing improvised explosive devices, repairing weapons, and improving the effectiveness of bombs. The study characterizes the group’s experimentation with multiple AI platforms, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and DeepSeek, and claims that requests were sometimes framed in ways meant to avoid safety restrictions.
Analysts quoted in the coverage caution that AI may not immediately transform terrorism at scale, but it could speed up knowledge-sharing and help lower-level operatives access technical know-how. Technology companies referenced, including OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, reiterate that use of their products for terrorism violates policies and that safeguards are being strengthened to block harmful queries.
