Twenty-five years after 9/11, experts warn that terrorists are increasingly leveraging emerging technologies like AI, drones, and the internet to plan and execute potential attacks.

The 9/11 Commission Report famously identified a failure of imagination regarding the methods used in the 2001 attacks. Today, as the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaches in 2026, the counterterrorism community faces a new challenge: anticipating how violent extremists might combine modern technologies like artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial systems, and encrypted communications to conduct novel attacks.

Technological Advancements in Terrorism

While airports are no longer the soft targets they once were, terrorists now have access to technologies that were either non-existent or in their infancy 25 years ago. The internet remains the primary facilitator, allowing for widespread propaganda, radicalization, and recruitment. Additionally, the commercialization of tools such as 3D printing, virtual currencies, and AI has lowered the barrier to entry for lone actors and organizations, enabling them to master capabilities previously reserved for states.

The Role of Drones and AI

Terrorist groups have been experimenting with weaponized drones for two decades, with Hezbollah launching explosive-laden drones into Israeli airspace as early as 2006. While no spectacular drone attack has yet occurred in the West, groups like Hamas, the Houthis, and the Islamic State have integrated them into their operations. Generative AI is also being utilized for propaganda, operational security, and tactical planning, such as simulating attack scenarios or providing instructions for building explosives.

Shifting Counterterrorism Landscapes

The nature of the threat has shifted from militants traveling to training camps to individuals radicalized remotely via the internet. While counterterrorism measures—such as biometric screening, forensic innovations, and data integration—have successfully restricted terrorist mobility, the challenge remains in disrupting the digital ecosystems that facilitate recruitment and planning. Experts emphasize that the current threat involves the convergence of multiple technologies, such as using AI for target selection alongside drone-based delivery systems.