A growing number of employees are turning to unauthorized AI tools at work, often bypassing IT policies for convenience or access to preferred apps. A recent survey by Software AG revealed that half of all knowledge workers use personal AI tools.

Workers like “John,” a software engineer, prefer tools like Cursor over approved ones like GitHub Copilot, citing efficiency and better output. Similarly, “Peter,” a product manager, uses ChatGPT for brainstorming and competitive analysis, describing it as a virtual sparring partner. Both highlight how unauthorized tools boost productivity and pose risks, particularly with corporate data entering unregulated systems.

The phenomenon, dubbed “shadow AI,” exposes businesses to privacy and security concerns. Experts suggest companies embrace open discussions about tool usage, enabling safe and effective integration of AI technologies into workflows, rather than outright banning them.

Source: BBC

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