Boko Haram Integrates Artificial Intelligence into Operations
A recent report from the Cambridge Program on AI Science and Policy reveals that Boko Haram is increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence in its insurgency. The group has begun employing widely available chatbots, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, Meta AI, and DeepSeek, to enhance various operational aspects such as attack planning, bomb design, drone operations, and crucial battlefield decision-making.
Dedicated AI Departments within Terrorist Organizations
Based on 57 in-depth interviews conducted in Borno and Adamawa states between 2025 and 2026, the report indicates that terrorist groups have evolved from experimental use of AI to establishing specialized technical departments dedicated to leveraging this technology at multiple operational stages.
Insights from Former Boko Haram Members
The research involved interactions with 27 former members of Boko Haram, including mid-ranking commanders, bomb makers, engineers, and weapons specialists. Their testimonies provided insights into the group’s AI-related activities from 2023 to 2024, with one participant extending information into mid-2025. Crucially, 15 of the interviewees had direct knowledge of the AI program, while others remained unaware due to limited access allocated only to selected commanders and technical teams.
Formation of AI Units within Boko Haram Factions
The findings reveal that both Boko Haram factions—the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jamaat al-Sunnah Riddawati wal-Jihad (JAS)—have established dedicated AI units comprising five to 20 members. Teams include bomb makers, engineers, intelligence officers, and senior commanders. ISWAP has formed these units in key operational areas such as Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad region, with the Lake Chad unit identified as the group’s primary AI center under close supervision from Islamic State operatives.
Training and Resource Allocation for AI Utilization
According to the report, foreign Islamic State operatives played a critical role in introducing AI technology to ISWAP via a structured training initiative. Senior commanders participated in demonstrations while select service members received hands-on training. One session saw approximately 30 to 50 specially chosen commanders and combatants from various battalions learn to engage with the AI platform. The first Lake Chad unit subsequently trained around 120 experts across 12 camps, all while enforcing strict restrictions on technology access.
Operational Applications of AI Technology
The report highlights numerous ways AI is applied in operations, including planning attacks, designing explosives, improving logistics, and analyzing battlefield imagery. In one notable instance, AI helped ISWAP devise a strategy to navigate military trenches on motorcycles following an unsuccessful attempt. Another account revealed that fighters equipped with chest-mounted cameras sent images to commanders, who used AI to analyze the footage and send revised tactical instructions back to the field.
The Impact of AI on Boko Haram’s Tactical Effectiveness
Former bomb makers noted the AI system’s frequent use in crafting explosive devices, revisiting chatbot interactions whenever designs fell short or required adjustments. Interviewees suggested that this technology enables Boko Haram to deploy smaller forces effectively while minimizing casualties among their ranks. One former member emphasized the crucial role of AI, stating that as the technology becomes more precise, “trial and error can cost lives.”
Connections Between AI and Drone Operations
AI has also become integral to ISWAP’s expanding drone program, offering insights on payload calculations and release mechanisms during missions. The report indicates that security measures of the AI platforms were often bypassed after foreign trainers taught select personnel to disguise requests as research inquiries. When access was denied or accounts were suspended, operatives quickly shifted to alternative platforms or accounts.
Concerns About Bioweapons and Regulatory Challenges
While the report does mention some interest among interviewees in experimenting with chemical and biological weapons, there is currently no evidence to suggest that any Boko Haram faction possesses developed capabilities in this area. Ultimately, researchers concluded that Boko Haram has successfully transformed publicly available AI chatbots into a sophisticated technical support mechanism guided by senior commanders and bolstered by connections to foreign extremist networks. This integration is significant as it enables the group to enhance its operational complexity and effectiveness amid ongoing conflicts.
