Regulators, policymakers, and cybersecurity experts have expressed concern over the increasing use of AI technology by various militant groups and extremist organizations worldwide. Security experts have pointed out that some insurgent groups are using AI chatbots, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, along with tools that generate images and videos, to carry out cyberattacks, espionage, and disinformation.

Just last week, lawmakers at the US House Committee on Homeland Security raised the issue of how groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda are using the technology. The lawmakers said that such groups are organizing workshops to train their members and supporters on how to use AI. The workshops teach how to create engaging and credible videos and articles, how to send messages that cannot be detected by security agencies, or how to code.

They are now using AI technology to create promotional materials, target posts, and even recruit new members to their groups, according to a report by The Associated Press. It is understood that they are attracted to AI because AI tools are readily available and a small investment can have a large impact. “They are trying to incite people and work against civil society by creating fake news and deepfakes,” Indian media outlet The Hindu said in its newsletter.

Not only militant organizations, but also their supporters have been found to be promoting the use of AI tools for terrorist activities. For example, last November, a user in an online group supporting the Islamic State (IS) urged other supporters to make the use of AI a part of their activities.

Two years ago, an AI-generated photo of a bloodied child stranded in a bombed building during the Israel-Hamas war was posted. International media outlets have reported that extremist groups in the Middle East have been recruiting new members by showing the same photo. Cybersecurity experts have urged governments to be aware of this in time.

According to Marcus Fowler, CEO of cybersecurity company Darktrace Federal, who is also a former CIA agent, extremist groups are far behind countries like China, Russia or Iran in terms of AI use, and its sophisticated use is only an ‘ambition’ for them. However, he says that the risk posed by this will be very frightening as access to cheap and powerful AI technology increases.

Hackers are already using fake voices and videos made from AI for ‘phishing’. They try to deceive people by impersonating a large business organization or government leader and gain access to secret networks. Cybersecurity experts warn that there is a risk that they could use AI to automate the process of malicious software or cyber attacks.

‘More worryingly, extremist groups could use AI to develop biological or chemical weapons,’ The Associated Press reported on December 15, ‘There is a fear that AI could fill the gap in the technical knowledge needed for such things.’ According to the report, this risk was also included in the US Department of Homeland Security’s recent ‘Threat Assessment Report.’