Cambridge Study Finds Boko Haram Systematically Uses AI for Attacks
Generative AI misuse by extremist groups has largely been associated with propaganda, recruitment and translation. Field research from the University of Cambridge’s Programme on AI Science & Policy, or CASP, points to a more operational shift: Boko Haram factions have incorporated chatbots into combat and routine workflows. The findings matter because general-purpose models can lower barriers to tactical, weapons and logistics knowledge, turning weaknesses in safeguards from a product-safety concern into a direct counterterrorism risk.
CASP researcher Antonia Juelich published the 93-page report on July 10, 2026, drawing on 57 interviews with 27 former members conducted in northeastern Nigeria in 2025 and 2026. Respondents said Boko Haram’s two factions had used ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, Meta AI and DeepSeek, primarily since 2024, through dedicated teams of five to 20 people. The tools allegedly supported attack planning, weapons troubleshooting and explosive-device design, with some users bypassing safeguards. The report, however, lacks platform records or forensic evidence, leaving several claims independently unverified.
All Coverage
1 original reportsThe Backstory
The history behind this eventChatGPT Safeguards Bypassed to Generate Harmful Images
Generative AI image tools use input and output filters to block pornography, extreme violence and non-consensual intimate content, but developers and those devising jailbreak techniques remain locked in a continuing battle. British AI security startup Mindgard found that minor changes to innocuous prompts could push ChatGPT beyond its policy boundaries, underscoring the persistent difficulty of accounting for context and variations in content moderation.
Mindgard discovered the vulnerability on May 9, 2026, and submitted a full technical report to OpenAI on May 14. OpenAI said on June 8 that it had deployed mitigations, but researchers reproduced images depicting graphic violence and sexually suggestive content on June 10 after making only slight changes to the prompts. After the BBC reported the findings on June 18, OpenAI requested the test links again and added further safeguards. No related costs or financial losses were disclosed.
Subscribe to Mark Radar Weekly
Every Friday, the week's strongest signals in your inbox. Unsubscribe anytime.
If you search news on Google, you can set Mark Radar as a preferred source—our coverage will show up more often in your results. Set as preferred source on Google →