More shadow AI in Polish companies than authorized access

a close up of a computer screen with a graph on it — Agence Olloweb / Unsplash

A report indicates that shadow AI is not a rebellion but a productivity act. Nearly 9 percent of companies have implemented a ban on using AI tools, which may increase the scale of shadow AI. One-third (33.4 percent) of organizations in the country report unauthorized use of artificial intelligence tools, surpassing the percentage of entities that claim their employees use AI transparently (25.2 percent).

It is even more common for some solutions to remain in the shadow AI zone while others are deployed openly (32.5 percent). About 9 percent of companies have introduced a complete ban on the use of AI tools. According to the authors of the report, if a tool facilitates work and for various reasons an employee cannot access it officially, they will typically still use it.

Experts note that bans may deepen the problem and increase the use of AI tools in an uncontrolled manner. The optimal option is to legalize and regulate the use of AI within companies. The scale of shadow AI is illustrated by a global study from Veeam, which found that 95 percent of companies experience this phenomenon. Of those, 93 percent consider the situation a significant risk. It incurs specific costs, with management and protection against shadow AI expected to consume 1.4 billion dollars in 2026 and 8.64 billion dollars by 2032, as projected by MarketsandMarkets.

Interestingly, 44 percent of managers admitted to using AI quietly and unofficially in a study by Sharp Europe, indicating that this tendency is not limited to just regular employees.