Boko Haram Fighters Used AI Chatbots to Plan Attacks and Build Bombs, Cambridge Study Says

Boko Haram fighters are using the AI chatbots of major technology companies to help build more powerful bombs, plan attacks and solve problems during combat, according to University of Cambridge research.

The study is titled "God Has Helped Us, and So Will AI." It was written by terrorism researcher Antonia Juelich of the Cambridge Programme on AI Science & Policy. It rests mainly on 57 interviews with 27 former Boko Haram members, conducted in north-east Nigeria between 2025 and 2026.

It is described as the first field-based evidence of AI adoption by a terrorist organisation. The New York Times first reported it, and Al Jazeera followed with new material on September 18.

Both factions involved
The former fighters came from both factions, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihad (JAS). Some said members routinely consulted ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, Meta AI and DeepSeek for technical and military advice before, during and after attacks.

Dedicated AI units
The research suggests both factions set up dedicated AI units staffed by engineers, weapons specialists and bomb-makers. One former JAS commander described a 23-member unit working from a solar-powered room, where members answered questions, analysed information and trained senior commanders. Members were reportedly also trained to bypass the safeguards meant to stop chatbots from answering dangerous requests.

Uses beyond bomb-making
About 10 of the 27 former fighters spoke about using AI in connection with explosives, including efforts to increase bombs' destructive power.

Beyond that, the study found AI was used for weapons troubleshooting, tactical and strategic planning, operational security and logistics. Some interviewees said they had used AI to improve weaponized drones.

Al Jazeera also reported that material shared with it shows supporters of the wider Islamic State group swapping ways to bypass AI safeguards.

Caveats
A Premium Times review of the 93-page report found that many of its central claims could not be independently verified, since they rest largely on interviews with former members.

The author says the specific policy implications are beyond the scope of the paper. She urges governments, AI companies and academics to work together on understanding and responding to the trend.

Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/ Science Communicator,
Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,

International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding. ( USIP)

[email protected]
+233555275880

Report page: https://casp.ac/reports/ai-enabled-terrorism

Full PDF (93 pages): https://casp.ac/__l5e/assets-v1/8e5796ad-c373-4dea-8470-466263cd2125/ai-enabled-terrorism-report.pdf