Society & Economicsarticle2026-07-31

Lone-Actor Terrorism In The Age Of Relational Machines

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Abstract

AI companion platforms are purpose-built to validate, affirm, and emotionally sustain their users. This article examines whether that structural logic poses a measurable radicalisation risk for individuals already predisposed to lone-actor terrorism. Drawing on a structured simulation conducted across seven ideological profiles and three AI companion personality types on Ourdream AI, the study finds that 28 per cent of interactions progressed users to the explicit violence tier without active discouragement. Accelerationist and Islamist profiles received the strongest reinforcement; incel and far-right profiles were most frequently de-escalated. Dominant companion personalities posed the greatest reinforcement risk.

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View paper (DOI)Open access versionOpenAlexZenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)Published 2026-07-31

Authors: Blair Maddock-Ferrie