A new report has raised fresh concerns over the growing use of artificial intelligence by Boko Haram insurgents, revealing that members of the terrorist group are deploying AI tools to build explosive devices and improve their operational tactics.
According to a report by The New York Times, the insurgents have increasingly relied on AI-powered chatbots to obtain information on explosives, military tactics and weapons maintenance, heightening fears over the misuse of emerging technology by violent extremist groups.
The findings were based on a study conducted by Antonia Juelich, a terrorism and technology researcher at the University of Cambridge, who interviewed former Boko Haram fighters and commanders in Nigeria over the past year.
The report stated that some former insurgents admitted using AI applications to overcome operational challenges encountered during attacks on military formations.
One former Boko Haram commander recounted how the group turned to artificial intelligence after its fighters were unable to cross a defensive trench surrounding a military base.
“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,” the former commander was quoted as saying.
The report added that the use of AI by the insurgents extended beyond battlefield mobility, with the technology also providing guidance on explosives and other operational activities.
The revelation has intensified concerns among security experts, who warn that the rapid advancement and accessibility of artificial intelligence could increasingly be exploited by terrorist organisations to enhance their capabilities and evade conventional security measures.