United KingdomAI researcher Mijke van den Hurk explored the potential of artificial intelligence to understand the complex dynamics behind radicalization. Her work, completed as a Ph.D. thesis, examined how factors like personal needs, social pressures, and external conditions contribute to individuals joining extremist groups. Inspired by the 2019 Sri Lanka terrorist attacks, van den Hurk used agent-based modeling (ABM), a computational method that simulates interactions between individuals with distinct traits and behaviors. This approach allowed her to explore how radicalization might develop through simulated environments. Despite extensive research, no single theory fully explains the process of radicalization, highlighting the difficulty of predicting and intervening in such cases.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced overview of van den Hurk’s academic research into radicalization using AI techniques. It does not take a stance on political issues but focuses on the scientific investigation of a phenomenon relevant to national security and policing. Framing remains neutral, with no
