Lone wolf terrorism refers to acts of terrorism planned and executed by individuals without direct support or orders from organized terrorist groups. Recently, concerns have been raised that advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology could facilitate the spread of lone wolf terrorism.
In January 2025, a former U.S. Army Green Beret, Matthew Riebelsberger, used AI tools such as ChatGPT to search for bomb-making instructions before committing suicide in front of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has repeatedly warned that extremists could use AI tools to generate bomb-making instructions and target critical infrastructure such as power grids. According to DHS research, AI provides a favorable environment for terrorists to commit crimes. AI can be exploited to create fake news and manipulated videos (deepfakes), which can incite specific groups and generate social unrest. Furthermore, advancements in AI-powered drones and autonomous weapons increase the risk of terrorists conducting remote attacks.
In relation to this, Michael Johnson, in his 2021 study The Future Prospects of AI and Terrorism, argues that AI has the potential to transform the paradigm of terrorism. AI-based technology can lower the cost of terrorist attacks, increase the feasibility of execution, and provide methods to evade surveillance by security authorities. Automated hacking tools and AI-driven voice modulation technology can enhance the anonymity of terrorists, facilitate virtual organization, and enable lone wolves to orchestrate large-scale attacks similar to those typically carried out by major terrorist organizations.
In response, governments and security agencies worldwide are implementing regulatory measures to prevent the misuse of AI technology. The United Nations (UN) held a special conference on AI and cybersecurity in 2023, emphasizing international cooperation in developing AI-based counterterrorism technologies. The European Union (EU) has introduced legal regulations under the Digital Services Act (DSA) to restrict the distribution of extremist content generated by AI and is working with Europol to operate AI-based content monitoring and blocking systems. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is strengthening AI-driven security analysis and investing in technologies that detect potential threats in advance.
On the other hand, AI could serve as a tool for counterterrorism rather than fueling terrorism. For instance, AI can analyze large-scale online data to detect and prevent terrorist activities at an early stage. Furthermore, AI-powered facial recognition technology and predictive analysis algorithms can be used to establish systems that identify potential threats.
Ultimately, whether AI advancements will become a tool for expanding lone wolf terrorism or a means to prevent it depends on technological governance and ethical regulations. Recognizing the dual nature of AI, it is crucial to foster international discussions and prepare preventive measures.
