Extremist groups use AI to produce fake images and recruit new members

As the rest of the world harnesses the power of artificial intelligence (AI), militant groups are also experimenting with the technology, even if they don’t know exactly what to do with it.

For extremist organizations, AI could be a powerful tool to recruit new members, produce realistic deepfake images and refine their cyberattacks, national security experts and spy agencies warn.

Last month, someone on a pro-Islamic State group’s website called for other IS supporters to incorporate AI into their operations. “One of the best things about AI is how easy it is to use,” the user wrote in English.

“Some intelligence agencies fear AI will help recruitment,” the user continued. “So make your nightmares come true.”

ISIS, which seized territory in Iraq and Syria years ago but is now a decentralized alliance of militant groups sharing a violent ideology, recognized years ago that social media could be a powerful tool for…