An English researcher, Antonia Juelich, recently unveiled a study revealing Boko Haram’s “systematic” adoption of artificial intelligence in its operations. This terrorist organization has been responsible for widespread massacres and war crimes across northern Nigeria throughout its more than two-decade existence.

As artificial intelligence increasingly integrates into daily life, terrorist factions are not hesitating to harness its capabilities. Juelich’s research specifically highlights Boko Haram’s consistent reliance on AI to inform crucial military decisions within northern Nigeria, where the group has operated for over 20 years.

In recent years, various terrorist entities, including the Islamic State, have cultivated extensive networks of trainers. These networks reportedly comprise AI specialists from around the globe, deployed to instruct militants on the ground.

“Allah helped us, AI will help us too”

Accounts from Boko Haram members detail training sessions featuring slides and projectors, designed to teach them how to utilize AI tools. They claim that this newfound knowledge enabled them to reactivate certain foreign weapons by cleaning them with diesel, a technique reportedly advised by artificial intelligence.

Furthermore, platforms such as ChatGPT, Grok, or Gemini are said to have instructed jihadists in the development of more potent and effective explosives for combat scenarios.

The study also recounts an incident where terrorists, guided by AI, learned to execute a motorcycle jump over a ditch, reminiscent of a Hollywood action film, to assault a military installation in Nigeria.

While Islamist groups have previously leveraged AI for propaganda, this technology is now being transformed into a vital operational instrument. This strategic shift is underscored by a mantra frequently echoed within Boko Haram’s ranks: “Allah helped us, AI will help us too.”