Subj : Many workers are using unapproved AI tools at work - and sharing
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Thu Oct 02 2025 13:45:08

Many workers are using unapproved AI tools at work - and sharing a lot of 
private data they really shouldn't

Date:
Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:29:00 +0000

Description:
Workers are putting their companies at risk by using unapproved AI  execs are 
the worst for it.

FULL STORY
======================================================================Three 
in five workers say they use unapproved (shadow) AI tools Execs and senior 
managers are the worst culprits Workers lack the right tools or policies 

New research has claimed three in five (59%) workers say they use AI tools 
which have not been approved by their company  otherwise known as shadow AI. 

Even worse is that 75% of those using shadow AI admit to sharing sensitive 
data that could put their companies at risk, and 57% of these employees 
direct managers support the use of unapproved AI, the figures from Cybernews 
say. 

Thats because its actually execs and senior managers who are the most likely 
to use shadow AI tools (93%), with managers (73%) and professionals (62%) 
less likely to do so. Shadow AI is a big concern for organizations 

Among the most commonly shared sensitive information are employee data (35%), 
customer data (32%), internal documents (27%), legal and financial 
information (21%), security-related information (21%) and proprietary code 
(20%), and this is despite most (89%) workers associating AI with risks. 

Nearly two-thirds (64%) acknowledge that data breaches could result from 
shadow AI use, but while 57% agree they would stop using unapproved tools if 
a data breach occurred, few are taking preventative measures today. 

Once sensitive data enters an unsecured AI tool, you lose control. It can be 
stored, reused, or exposed in ways youll never know about, nexos.ai Head of 
Product ilvinas Girnas explained. 

Although companies are trying to get a handle on shadow AI use, a quarter 
(23%) still have no official AI policy at all. Similarly, only half (52%) of 
employers offer approved AI tools for work, and only one in three workers see 
these as meeting their needs. 

Clearly, then, its on companies to implement more robust policies and to 
offer the right type of tools that cater to the needs of their workers  not 
just generic ones. 

Companies should look into ways to incorporate AI into their processes 
securely, efficiently, and responsibly, Cybernews Security Researcher Mantas 
Sabeckis concluded. You might also like Weve listed all of the best 
productivity apps Now AI is everywhere in businesses, is anyone actually 
using it? The best online learning platforms offer upskilling opportunities 
and AI training



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Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/pro/many-workers-are-using-unapproved-ai-tools-at-wo
rk-and-sharing-a-lot-of-private-data-they-really-shouldnt


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