Sabah Abdel Sabour

Recent years have seen a rapid expansion in the use of generative artificial intelligence applications, accompanied by growing warnings about their potential exploitation by terrorist groups. While early research on generative AI focused primarily on the risk of it being used to produce propaganda and disseminate extremist narratives, a recent <a href="https://casp.ac/reports/ai-enabled-terrorism" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">study</a> published by the University of Cambridge in July 2026 has documented how the terrorist group Boko Haram has used these tools for operational purposes, such as attack planning, logistical support, and the analysis of military tactics. This points to a qualitative shift in how terrorists are using artificial intelligence. Although the study stresses that many of its findings are based on testimony from former members of the group and do not constitute conclusive technical evidence, it nevertheless raises important questions about the extent to which terrorist organizations may begin to adopt AI technologies.Operational AdvantagesArtificial intelligence technologies can enable terrorist groups to carry out a wide range of tasks more efficiently and at lower cost than traditional methods. For example, they can process large volumes of data in a short period and automate a number of activities associated with propaganda, recruitment, and planning. The relatively low cost of digital tools compared with conventional methods also makes them more attractive, particularly given the availability of accessible commercial applications that can be easily obtained and <a href="https://www.tmmm.tsk.tr/publication/researches/21-TheWeaponizationofAI-TheNextStageofTerrorismandWarfare.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">adapted</a>.The open nature of many AI tools further increases the opportunities for terrorists to exploit them, as numerous models and algorithms can be accessed online and repurposed without requiring advanced technical expertise. AI technologies have also expanded the potential for identity impersonation and evasion of security procedures. Concerns have emerged, for example, over the possible use of images generated through generative adversarial networks (GANs) to produce morphed passports that could match more than one individual, potentially <a href="about:blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">deceiving</a> human verification systems.Advances in artificial intelligence, particularly digital twin models, could also make it possible to simulate environments and potential targets and test different scenarios before execution. Although such applications remain largely hypothetical and have yet to be documented in terrorist activity, they could provide terrorist organizations with <a href="https://www.tmmm.tsk.tr/publication/researches/21-TheWeaponizationofAI-TheNextStageofTerrorismandWarfare.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">greater</a> capacity to plan, train, and improve operational efficiency.Multiple Forms of UseThe risk posed by AI adoption within terrorrist organizations includes applications already observed in practice in recent years, as well as other potential uses that remain hypothetical, but which could emerge as these technologies rapidly develop. The most notable patterns include the following:1. Using AI for Terrorist Propaganda and Recruitment: Terrorist groups have repeatedly demonstrated an ability to adapt to technological change and exploit new tools for propaganda purposes. Beginning in the early 2000s, al-Qaeda used online forums and websites to disseminate propaganda and attract supporters. ISIS later made a qualitative leap in the use of social media for real-time communication and recruitment, helping it attract thousands of foreign fighters to Syria and Iraq.With the rapid development of generative AI, terrorist groups can now produce propaganda content quickly and at scale, including images, deepfake videos, and <a href="https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2377&amp;context=jss" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tailored messages</a> designed around the characteristics of specific target audiences. These tools may also improve their ability to <a href="https://ctc.westpoint.edu/will-generative-ai-fundamentally-change-terrorist-threats/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">circumvent</a> measures designed to remove extremist content.AI-powered chatbots can further enhance communication with potential recruits by delivering extremist content interactively without direct human involvement. They could also be exploited to provide guidance or information that may be used in planning terrorist attacks. Such applications may also reinforce the extremist views of individuals who become radicalized in isolation. One example often cited in this context is the <a href="https://ctc.westpoint.edu/will-generative-ai-fundamentally-change-terrorist-threats/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">case of British</a> national Jaswant Singh Chail, who discussed his plan to assassinate the late Queen Elizabeth II with an AI chatbot, illustrating the potential risks associated with these technologies in supporting individual radicalization.2. Employing AI in Operational Support and Military Planning: A field <a href="https://casp.ac/reports/ai-enabled-terrorism" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">study</a> conducted by researcher Antonia Juhasz under the Cambridge AI Safety and Policy (CASP) program, based on around 60 interviews with 27 former Boko Haram members, found that the group’s use of AI was no longer limited to propaganda and recruitment but had been integrated into different stages of military activity.The study documented the use of models such as ChatGPT, Claude, and DeepSeek in attack planning, battlefield analysis, the design and troubleshooting of improvised explosive devices, weapons repair, drone operations, and post-operation reviews. It also found that ISIS personnel provided <a href="https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2026/july/boko-haram-AI-use/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">online AI training</a> in 2023 to members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).3. Potential Use of AI in Cyberattacks: The rapid development of AI capabilities has raised growing concerns that terrorist organizations could use these technologies in future cyberattacks, increasing their ability to target digital infrastructure, government bodies, and critical institutions. <a href="https://www.tmmm.tsk.tr/publication/researches/21-TheWeaponizationofAI-TheNextStageofTerrorismandWarfare.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Reports</a> suggest that AI could make distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks more effective and phishing campaigns more convincing by generating fake messages and websites that are harder to detect. It could also enhance ransomware used for cyber extortion.Generative AI is also likely to improve the production of highly realistic fake images, videos, and texts, which could be used in disinformation campaigns and efforts to spread panic. Although evidence of widespread terrorist use of these capabilities remains limited, security institutions increasingly regard them as among the most significant emerging threats requiring stronger monitoring and cyber-defense tools.4. Providing New Tools for Terrorist Financing: Artificial intelligence may also provide terrorist groups with new tools to acquire financial resources and conceal financial flows. For example, deepfake voice technology could potentially be used to impersonate trusted individuals for the purpose of telephone fraud, <a href="https://www.un.org/counterterrorism/en/algorithms-and-terrorism-malicious-use-artificial-intelligence-terrorist-purposes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">fundraising</a>, or efforts to obtain sensitive information. AI applications could also be used to enhance money-laundering methods by helping to obscure transaction patterns and reduce the likelihood of detection. They could also automate certain cryptocurrency transactions, thereby facilitating cross-border financial transfers while providing a greater degree of <a href="https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/jss/vol18/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">anonymity</a>.5. Employing AI in Autonomous Systems: The development of autonomous systems, particularly self-driving vehicles and drones, has generated growing concern about their potential exploitation by terrorist organizations. In theory, such technologies could enable remote attacks using vehicles or drones equipped with AI-based capabilities, reducing risks to perpetrators while increasing targeting precision.The United Nations and the Global Counterterrorism Forum have also shown growing concern over terrorist misuse of drones. However, reports indicate that the use of AI-enabled autonomous systems remains limited and that most terrorist drone operations still rely on direct human control, with no confirmed evidence to date of widespread use of fully autonomous AI capabilities in <a href="https://www.un.org/counterterrorism/en/algorithms-and-terrorism-malicious-use-artificial-intelligence-terrorist-purposes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">terrorist operations</a>.Constraints on UseDespite the opportunities AI technologies may provide to terrorist organizations, their use continues to face several important limitations:1. Limited Operational Impact of Artificial Intelligence: Although terrorist organizations have begun using AI models to produce propaganda, conduct automated translation, and reproduce media content, available evidence indicates that the impact of these applications remains <a href="https://ctc.westpoint.edu/will-generative-ai-fundamentally-change-terrorist-threats/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">limited</a>, at least in the near term. While AI can generate and disseminate large volumes of synthetic content rapidly, there is no conclusive evidence that this has produced a significant increase in recruitment or radicalization compared with traditional methods.Some studies also suggest that AI use could create challenges for terrorist groups themselves, including diminished credibility and reduced legitimacy among some supporters due to reliance on machine-generated content. There are also security concerns associated with using applications that may be vulnerable to monitoring or surveillance.2. Human Factors Continue to Shape Radicalization: <a href="https://ctc.westpoint.edu/will-generative-ai-fundamentally-change-terrorist-threats/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Reports</a> indicate that radicalization is not driven by exposure to media content alone but is influenced by a complex combination of social, psychological, and ideological factors. This limits the extent to which AI, despite its growing sophistication, can fundamentally transform recruitment processes.The abundance of AI-generated content also does not necessarily translate into greater influence. The information environment has become increasingly crowded and competitive, making audience attention a persistent challenge for all actors, including terrorist organizations. In the near term, AI is therefore more likely to improve the efficiency of existing tools than it is to fundamentally transform the effectiveness of propaganda or recruitment.3. Growing Security Capabilities to Counter Terrorist Use of AI: The spread of dual-use AI technologies has lowered barriers to terrorist access to advanced technical tools. At the same time, however, counterterrorism agencies have accelerated the integration of AI applications into their own security systems.These agencies increasingly rely on machine learning to analyze large datasets, detect extremist content, track financing patterns, anticipate potential threats, and identify links among terrorist networks. This dynamic has contributed to what some researchers describe as an "<a href="https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2377&amp;context=jss" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AI arms race</a>," as both terrorist organizations and security agencies seek to exploit emerging technologies to strengthen their operational capabilities and overcome those of their adversaries.In conclusion, the available evidence suggests that the use of artificial intelligence by terrorist organizations remains limited in both scale and impact and has not yet fundamentally transformed their operational capabilities. Nevertheless, the rapid development of AI models and the expansion of their potential applications are intensifying international concerns over future misuse. CIA Director John Ratcliffe has described such models as "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/10/us/politics/ai-terrorism-boko-haram-nigeria.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">digital nuclear weapons</a>," while these concerns have also prompted the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to tighten oversight of advanced AI models by requiring developers to make their most sophisticated releases available for government review before public deployment.

How Terrorist Organizations Are Using Artificial Intelligence