A new report has revealed that Boko Haram is increasingly using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to build explosive devices and support its operations, raising fresh concerns over the misuse of emerging technology by terrorist groups.
According to a report published by The New York Times on Friday, members of the insurgent group are using AI-powered chatbots to obtain information on military tactics, weapons maintenance and the construction of explosive devices.
The findings, based on a study by Antonia Juelich, a terrorism and technology researcher at the University of Cambridge, have heightened concerns among security experts about the growing role of AI in violent extremism.
The study drew on interviews conducted over the past year with former Boko Haram members and commanders in Nigeria.
According to the report, some former insurgents admitted using AI tools to solve practical challenges encountered during attacks.
One former Boko Haram commander recalled how a planned assault on a military base was delayed after fighters were unable to cross a defensive trench surrounding the facility.
“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 so on, and it gave us steps on what we have to do,” the former commander said.
The report added that the use of AI by Boko Haram extends beyond battlefield mobility, highlighting growing concerns over how rapidly advancing technology could be exploited by terrorist organisations.
