Generative AI and Terrorism

Abstract With the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and sophisticated AI-based deep-learning models such as ChatGPT, there is growing concern that malicious actors like terrorists and violent extremists will apply these platforms to enhance their operations online and in the real world. Large language models (LLMs) can enable terrorists to gather information, learn, plan actions, radicalize, recruit, and propagate their activities with greater effectiveness and impact than ever before. With AI increasingly becoming more accessible, especially with the use of LLM models, the threats are more realistic and acute. Thus, there is a major need to research the security implications of these deep-learning generative AI (GenAI) models. This article offers an early exploration of how these large language models could be exploited by terrorists or other violent extremists. The findings offer concerning insights into the vulnerabilities of these platforms. The experiments revealed that even the most sophisticated content moderation and protection methods must be reviewed and reconsidered. This article details the findings, discusses the potential implications, and then suggests recommendations for policymakers to address these issues.