Nigerian jihadist groups Boko Haram and ISWAP have integrated artificial intelligence into their terrorist operations, including bombmaking, attack planning, and battlefield tactics, according to recent studies and interviews with former militants [1, 2].
Since 2023, shortly after the launch of ChatGPT, these groups began employing AI tools to enhance their capabilities [1, 3]. Training sessions led by foreign AI "trainers" instructed militants on how to use chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek, Grok, Gemini, and Meta AI. These sessions emphasized secure use through encrypted laptops and VPNs to evade detection [1, 2].
The militants developed dedicated AI units to embed these technologies systematically across their operations [1, 2]. One former ex-jihadist said, "There is nothing we haven’t received an answer on. We believe it knows everything," highlighting the reliance on AI for tactical guidance [3].
Using AI as a "force multiplier," the groups refined existing methods but did not create fundamentally new types of attacks or weapons [3]. Chatbots offered step-by-step instructions and answered questions related to bombmaking, adapting equipment, and battlefield maneuvers such as jumping motorcycle trench defenses [1, 2].
Antonia Juelich, a national security expert, said, "AI adoption by terrorist groups has been much faster, more extensive and more systematic than we thought," adding that "AI models are becoming much more capable, so the stakes are also much higher now" [1, 2].
A study published July 15, 2026, confirmed the institutionalization of AI use across Boko Haram and ISWAP, with 27 former Boko Haram members interviewed to document these developments [1, 2]. Mid-2025 interviews with former militants showed continued AI integration [3].
The groups’ use of AI, combined with encrypted communications and dedicated training, marks a new phase in their operational tactics. Researchers and security agencies continue monitoring the evolving threat as AI tools advance.
