TRENDS Research & Advisory has launched a research project in partnership with the German modern consulting group MOSECON through its virtual office in Germany. The project titled Artificial Intelligence, Political Violence, Sabotage, and Hybrid Warfare: Recruitment, Attack Planning, and Organisational Resilience examines transformations in the nature of political violence and hybrid threats driven by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. It also explores strategies to enhance the capacity of governments, institutions and organisations to counter these complex security challenges, according to an announcement from TRENDS.
The launch occurred at the TRENDS pavilion during the Frankfurt Book Fair 2026 and was followed by a discussion session. Dr. Mohamed Abougazala, lead researcher and director of TRENDS virtual office in Germany, moderated the session that featured Jan San-Pierre, CEO and counter-terrorism advisor at MOSECON, along with Björn Haulitschka, business development director at Securitas Germany. The experts outlined project objectives and addressed practical implications of AI-enabled threats in the security landscape.
TRENDS Research & Advisory said in an announcement that the initiative reflects a shared commitment to fostering cooperation between research institutions and specialists while producing studies that support knowledge-based policies on emerging threats. The project builds on the centre’s prior work including an international conference held in 2025 at the French Senate on combating terrorism in the era of artificial intelligence. Such efforts align with TRENDS establishment of an Advanced Political Studies Department that integrates AI tools into political analysis.
A report from the Institute for Economics and Peace has indicated that artificial intelligence serves as a weapon for terrorists in recruitment, cyberattacks and autonomous operations. The institute’s assessment found that extremist groups leverage these technologies to amplify propaganda and planning capabilities, trends that provide context for the new research. Serge Stroobants, a director at the institute, has noted the dual nature of AI as both a security tool and a threat multiplier.
The joint project will focus on how AI facilitates recruitment processes and attack planning while identifying pathways to organisational resilience against technology-driven risks. Participants in the Frankfurt session highlighted key research themes and the evolving security dimensions of hybrid warfare. TRENDS virtual office in Germany has facilitated this collaboration to advance analysis of these issues at a European level.
TRENDS Research & Advisory, based in Abu Dhabi, continues to expand its international partnerships to address intersections between technology and global security challenges. The Frankfurt initiative adds to a series of activities at the book fair including a panel on artificial intelligence’s role in countering radical ideas. These activities underscore the centre’s focus on forward-looking research that informs policy responses to hybrid threats.
