Boko Haram fighters have used artificial intelligence chatbots developed by major technology companies for combat-related activities, including attack planning, weapons troubleshooting and the design of explosive devices, according to a new study by the University of Cambridge.
The research, conducted through interviews with 27 former members of Boko Haram’s two principal factions — Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihad (JAS) — provides new insight into how extremist organisations are incorporating commercially available AI tools into their operations.
The Cambridge Programme on AI Science & Policy said the interviews were conducted in northeast Nigeria during 2025 and 2026, with the research focusing primarily on AI-assisted activity through 2024.
Chatbots reportedly became a source of operational advice
According to the research, members of the two factions reported using frontier AI systems including OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini, xAI’s Grok, Meta AI and China’s DeepSeek.
Some former members told researchers that AI tools were consulted before, during and after attacks for technical and military information.
The study found that AI use had become sufficiently established within parts of the organisation that specialised units and internal training were reportedly created around its use.
The research said the tools were used to assist with attack planning, weapons troubleshooting and explosive-device design, with some users finding ways around safety restrictions designed to prevent harmful responses.
Researchers identify a growing security challenge
The Cambridge researchers described the findings as evidence that terrorist adoption of advanced AI has developed further and more systematically than previously recognised.
The report also identified the transfer of AI-related knowledge through transnational jihadist networks, including training involving Islamic State operatives.
The findings raise questions for technology companies and security agencies over how AI safeguards can be circumvented and how harmful knowledge can spread between extremist networks.
Study does not establish that AI caused attacks
The research does not suggest that AI independently planned or carried out attacks.
Rather, the findings describe AI being used by members of Boko Haram factions as an additional source of information and problem-solving assistance.
The Cambridge report also notes that although interviewees expressed interest in more destructive weapons, the documented use identified by researchers remained within conventional terrorist activity.
The study adds to growing international concern about the potential misuse of increasingly capable AI systems by violent extremist organisations.