Attack Research

Description

AI is used to research prior attackers, target types, tactics, weapons, timelines, security gaps, or attack methods.

Rationale

Research into prior attacks, tactics, or methods using AI is a concrete operationalization behavior that moves the pathway from ideation toward preparation. AI makes this research faster, more synthesized, and potentially more detailed than traditional web research. The specificity and volume of attack research is a key risk indicator.

Evidence Base

• Inside a Mass Shooter’s Harrowing History With ChatGPT

  Mark Follman, 2024. Inside a Mass Shooter’s Harrowing History With ChatGPT. Mother Jones.

  News / journalism

• Guardrails Under Test: Terrorist Misuse of AI Models and the Open-Weight ‘Abliteration’ Problem

  Hadley, 2026. Guardrails Under Test: Terrorist Misuse of AI Models and the Open-Weight ‘Abliteration’ Problem. CTC Sentinel, 1(1), pages 1-13. DOI not present.

  Peer-reviewed study (original research)

• “God has helped us, and so will AI”: How the Terrorist Group Boko Haram Uses Frontier AI

  Antonia Juelich, 2026. “God has helped us, and so will AI”: How the Terrorist Group Boko Haram Uses Frontier AI. Frontier AI Working Paper Series, No. 1/2026.

  AI company report

• Increasing Threats of Deepfake Identities

  Tina Brooks et al., 2024. Increasing Threats of Deepfake Identities. Government / agency report.

  Government / agency report

• Assessing AI’s Influence On Violence Risk

  Crimando, 2026. Assessing AI’s Influence On Violence Risk. Continuity Insights.

  News / journalism

• Strengthening Capacities of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Authorities to Counter the Use of New Technologies for Terrorism Purposes

  United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, 2023. Strengthening Capacities of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Authorities to Counter the Use of New Technologies for Terrorism Purposes. United Nations, null, pages. null.

  Government / agency report