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Boko Haram exploited US and Chinese AI chatbots for attacks, Cambridge study finds
🇨🇳 China /Conflict & Security

Boko Haram exploited US and Chinese AI chatbots for attacks, Cambridge study finds

From South China Morning Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Boko Haram members received training on using AI chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Chinese DeepSeek's chatbot.
  • A Cambridge University study found the group used these AI tools for bomb construction, attack planning, and daily operations.
  • Researchers warn that the misuse of increasingly capable AI by non-state actors poses a significant national security threat.

Boko Haram members have been trained to exploit advanced artificial intelligence chatbots, including those from US tech giant OpenAI and Chinese company DeepSeek, according to a new study by Cambridge University. Specialized trainers, potentially linked to the Islamic State network, reportedly conducted workshops in northeastern Nigeria, equipping militants with laptops pre-installed with VPNs and encryption software.

The research, based on interviews with 27 former Boko Haram members conducted over the past year, indicates that the militant group utilized these AI tools for critical operational tasks throughout 2024 and into mid-2025. These tasks included assisting in bomb construction, planning attacks, and managing wider day-to-day activities as part of their ongoing terrorism campaign.

Researcher Antonia Juelich highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating, "This is very much a current national security problem." She emphasized that as AI models become more sophisticated, the potential for misuse by non-state actors, including terrorists, escalates significantly. The findings come amid growing international pressure on the US and China to address the risks associated with AI misuse in their upcoming safety talks.

This is very much a current national security problem. AI models are becoming much more capable, so the stakes are also much higher now.

— Antonia JuelichCambridge University researcher Antonia Juelich commented on the national security implications of AI misuse by terrorist groups.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by South China Morning Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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