Boko Haram fighters have increasingly turned to artificial intelligence tools and action movies to sharpen their operational capabilities, using AI-powered chatbots to seek guidance on battlefield tactics, weapons maintenance and other military-related challenges, according to a report published by The New York Times on Friday.
The report, which cited a study by terrorism and technology researcher Antonia Juelich of the University of Cambridge, said interviews with former Boko Haram members revealed that the insurgents relied on generative AI platforms to overcome operational difficulties during attacks in Nigeria.
The study was based on interviews conducted over the past year with former members of Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
According to the report, one former Boko Haram commander recounted how the group sought AI assistance after an assault on a military base was thwarted by a defensive trench.
The insurgents, inspired by scenes from action movies, reportedly asked AI chatbots how to modify their motorcycles to clear similar obstacles.
“We saw in a movie how motorcycles can jump over bridges. 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 so on, and it gave us steps on what we have to do,” the former commander told Juelich.
Mechanics subsequently upgraded the motorcycles to improve their speed and acceleration, while fighters repeatedly rehearsed the manoeuvre before launching another attack, the report said.
Beyond mobility tactics, the study found that insurgents used AI chatbots to obtain information on repairing or upgrading weapons, gathering operational intelligence and designing improvised explosive devices.
One former ISWAP commander described the technology as a readily available source of technical guidance.
“You type in the question or use your voice, and it gives you a detailed answer. It is like a human robot! We used it a lot,” he was quoted as saying.
Several former fighters told the researcher that AI reduced the risks associated with trial-and-error during operations.
“Trial-and-error can kill you. AI gives you accuracy,” one interviewee said.
Another former Boko Haram member claimed the group also used AI-generated guidance to improve the effectiveness of its explosives.
The study further found that some commanders regarded AI as an increasingly valuable operational tool.
“God has helped us, and so will AI,” one commander reportedly told the researcher.
According to The New York Times, the findings suggest that extremist groups are moving beyond using generative AI for propaganda, recruitment and translation, and are increasingly exploring its potential for operational planning and battlefield support.
Former insurgents told the researcher they had experimented with several AI platforms, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok and DeepSeek.
The report also cited recent research indicating that terrorist organisations are testing AI for reconnaissance, communications, coding, intelligence gathering and other operational purposes, despite safety measures embedded in many chatbot systems.
Responding to the findings, OpenAI said the use of its products for terrorism or violence violates its policies and that it continues to strengthen safeguards against misuse.
Google and Anthropic similarly stated that their AI models are designed to reject dangerous requests and that they are continually improving their safety systems.
However, the study found that some experienced insurgents claimed they were able to circumvent chatbot safeguards by disguising harmful requests as legitimate activities, such as film production or academic projects.
Researchers also reported that the fighters often compared responses from multiple AI platforms to identify those that disclosed more useful information.
While experts cautioned that artificial intelligence is unlikely to fundamentally reshape terrorism in the immediate future, they warned that the technology could enhance the capabilities of lower-level operatives and accelerate the spread of technical knowledge within extremist networks.
