A new report has revealed that Boko Haram insurgents are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) platforms to strengthen their operations, using chatbots to gain technical guidance on weapons, explosives, and battlefield tactics.
According to The New York Times, the findings stem from research by Antonia Juelich of the University of Cambridge, who interviewed former Boko Haram members in Nigeria over the past year.
Ex-commanders disclosed that the group used AI-powered chatbots to overcome operational challenges, including modifying motorcycles to leap defensive trenches during assaults on military bases.
One former commander explained: “We used AI to learn how to do this. We gave it information, like what motorcycles we use and the distance we need to jump, and it gave us steps on what we have to do.” Mechanics reportedly upgraded the bikes for speed and acceleration, while fighters rehearsed the manoeuvre before launching fresh attacks.
Beyond battlefield tactics, insurgents also sought AI guidance on designing improvised explosive devices, repairing weapons, and enhancing bomb potency.
“Trial-and-error can kill you. AI gives you accuracy,” one member told the researcher, adding that the technology helped them make explosives more destructive.
The study noted that Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters experimented with multiple AI platforms including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and DeepSeek often bypassing safety restrictions by disguising their requests as legitimate projects.
While analysts caution that AI is unlikely to radically transform terrorism in the short term, they warn that it could accelerate knowledge-sharing among extremist groups and improve the capabilities of lower-level operatives.
Tech companies such as OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic reiterated that using their products for terrorism violates policies, stressing that safeguards are continually being strengthened to block dangerous queries.
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