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.