Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
TRENDS Research & Advisory Centre participated with a research paper titled “The Use of AI by Terrorist Groups: Threats and the Role of Think Tanks” in the 2nd Annual Forum for Think Tanks in Arab Countries.
The forum was organised by the Research and Strategic Studies Department at the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, under the theme “Toward an Arab Mechanism to Counter Threats of the Use of AI by Terrorist Groups.” The event took place at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in Cairo on December 23-24, 2024, with the participation of dozens of Arab research institutions and think tanks.
Proactive Policies
Saqer Al-Suwaidi, a researcher and Deputy Director of the TRENDS International Training Institute, presented the research paper on behalf of Dr. Mohammed Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory Centre.
He explained that the possibility for terrorists to use AI has now become greater than ever, making the need urgent for proactive policies and multi-stakeholder collaborative initiatives to monitor and combat AI-enhanced terrorist activities.
Al-Suwaidi said that recent studies and reports agree that AI makes extremism easier and faster, and that there is a growing concern about terrorists exploiting the huge capabilities of technology, particularly AI. He also pointed out that barriers to using AI tools, such as cost, training, and coding skills, have decreased substantially, making the access to them widely available.
He added that many reports indicate that violent terrorist and extremist organisations seek and plan to benefit from AI to strengthen their operations through the enhancement of data collection and analysis, recruitment, and funding.
Weaknesses in AI Systems
Saqer Al-Suwaidi noted that there are clear vulnerabilities in AI-powered systems that are utilised by states, which terrorist groups may seek to exploit. According to recent studies, some extremist groups have attempted to hack drones and autonomous vehicles to carry out terrorist attacks through them. Also, these groups could infiltrate and manipulate traffic control systems, causing large-scale accidents with catastrophic loss of life.
He further added that AI plays a critical role in security, defence, and the tracking of terrorists and terrorist finance. This is achieved by processing huge databases to extract information. The importance of this forum, therefore, lies in its aim to contribute to developing mechanism to counter the threats of the use of AI by terrorist organisations.
Developing Innovative Solutions
The research paper proposed several roles for think tanks in overcoming the challenges of terrorist groups using AI systems, including promoting constructive collaboration between government bodies, technology companies, and think tanks to develop innovative and effective solutions to counter the threats posed by extremist groups. Furthermore, the paper stressed the importance of conducting case studies to understand how terrorist groups exploit AI and how to counter that.
Shaping Arab Awareness
The paper recommended the expansion of the role of think tanks in identifying the ethical responsibilities of technology companies to ensure their AI tools are not misused. Think tanks and research centres can also play a key role in enhancing intellectual exchange, sharing expertise, and enhancing knowledge transfer among stakeholders combating AI-enabled terrorist threats. Moreover, these institutions can contribute to shaping Arab public awareness, supporting mechanisms to counter the use of AI by extremist groups, and anticipating future developments of this phenomenon to develop effective strategies for addressing it.
Accompanying Exhibition
TRENDS also participated in the exhibition accompanying the 2nd Annual Forum for Think Tanks in Arab Countries by showcasing a selection of its latest research publications and knowledge output. These publications attracted considerable interest from academics, researchers, and intellectuals, who praised their content, accuracy, and insightful analyses.
TRENDS Research Medal
TRENDS awarded the “TRENDS Research Medal” to several distinguished academics, researchers, and intellectuals in recognition of their rich academic achievements and outstanding research contributions. Among the honourees were Dr. Alaa Al-Tamimi, Minister Plenipotentiary and Director of the Department of Research and Strategic Studies at the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States; His Excellency Helmy El-Namnam, former Egyptian Minister of Culture; His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Ezzat Saad, Director of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs; Dr. Khaled Okasha, Director General of the Egyptian Centre for Strategic Studies; Dr. Ayman Abdelwahab, Deputy Director of the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies; and Dr. Ebtisam Mostafa, Executive Director of the Sawt Al-Nil News Foundation.
