A University of Cambridge study has documented how members of Boko Haram and its offshoots are systematically using artificial intelligence chatbots from major technology companies to support military and combat operations. Researchers interviewed 27 former fighters from the ISIL-affiliated West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihad (JAS), who described routine reliance on platforms including OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini, Elon Musk’s Grok, Meta AI, and DeepSeek. The research reveals that the organization established dedicated AI units staffed with specialists, including engineers and weapons experts, who received formal training on how to use and circumvent safety restrictions on these platforms.
According to the study, the groups’ use of AI extends well beyond casual queries. Operatives established specialized units equipped with laptops, privacy tools, and paid subscriptions to multiple AI platforms. Training sessions were conducted using projectors to demonstrate how to query chatbots and bypass their safeguards. The report details how fighters integrated AI assistance into explosive device construction, with bomb-makers keeping laptops nearby to consult the chatbots when encountering technical problems during assembly. Approximately 10 of the 27 interviewees discussed using AI for explosives-related purposes, including efforts to make bombs more powerful and to recover explosive material from unexploded military ordnance.
Researchers emphasized that the threat extends beyond providing generic weapons information. Rather, the AI systems functioned as specialized technical consultants available around the clock, responding to specific problems with tailored advice based on available materials and operational contexts. The study documents instances where fighters consulted AI on how to adapt commercial drones for carrying explosives, how to operate newly acquired firearms, and how to approach obstacles during attacks.
Additional reporting obtained by Al Jazeera from Tech Against Terrorism revealed that ISIL supporters were actively sharing instructions on circumventing AI safety controls within technical forums. In February, United Nations officials warned the Security Council about increased AI adoption by ISIL and affiliated groups, reflecting broader concerns among researchers and technology industry figures about the pace of AI advancement outpacing safety measures.
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